max winds for O'Day 23

[jbrosecity]

We have been getting some fairly stiff winds on the lake lately... I have found that my O'Day 23 seems to handle 25+ pretty comfortably with just the main up, no reefing... I don't have a furling jib yet (have one on order) so it's an all or nothing prospect with my 110 genoa and I'm not comfortable flying both sails in 25+... but the main alone does fine. Question is this:

What's the most wind an 82 ODay 23 in good condition was built to handle? What kind of stress is it safe to put on those two shrouds? I would very much like to hear from other 23 owners as to what winds they have consistently handled comfortably.

P.S. I do have a special tensionable backstay on the mast which adds additional stability to the double shrouds on each side.

thanks a lot

 

[hman]

We've been out in 25+ with gusts to 30 and more with our 90 jib and a non reefed main eased way out. We had a couple of round ups in the gusts, but nothing we couldn't handle. The Oday 23 is a pretty stout boat for it's size.....I've got a main with reefs coming, I plan on sailing SF bay where the wind can go above 30 pretty consistantly. I know of others with 23's that sail the bay regularly with no problems.

 

[Bikes-n-Boats]

Max winds for a O'Day 23

JB

I have been sailing a 79 O'Day 23 for 5 years on Western Lake Erie. My hobbies are RC Sailplanes and Sailing as a result I seldom sail at wind speeds below 15 mph and almost always single handed. I have a hanked on storm jib and a 4 1/2 ft reef in the main, and regularly sail in wind speeds of 30 to 35 mph. I seldom round up but that is mostly because I have a kick-up rudder that draws 3 1/2 ft. This past winter I added a second 4 ft reef and full length battens so I will be more comfortable at higher wind speeds. I have also replaced the head stay and lower shrouds with 3/16" wire and 3/8" turnbuckles.

I think the most important thing is to use the proper safety gear, life jacket and harness, and only sail in conditions you are comfortable in. Properly handled the boat will probably handle more wind than you can.

I love my O'Day 23 and although it is not a racer it is a very nice sailing vessel and meets my current needs to a T.

Good Sailing

Clark T

 

[jbrosecity]

thanks for the replies... hope to hear from other 23 owners as well. I would imagine there's some variance depending on the age and condition of the shrouds and chain plates. My chain plates are bolted to the cabin bulkhead with 4 large stainless hex bolts and the bulkheads seem sound and solid so I don't think there's any weakness there. And I do not detect any signs of fraying on the stainless shrouds, so it should be a sturdy if not "like new" setup. So it's good to know these boats were built to withstand 25+ on a full main. I don't get any tendency to roundup in the gusts... but I am still a little "chicken" and so I intentionally luff up just a little in the stronger gusts. As I log more hours on my boat I expect I will get more comfortable heeling over further on just the main. I have a furling jib on order and when it is ready I look forward to experimenting with varying amounts of jib in stronger winds,