Never sailed and just bought a 20. . . is there a FAQ

[watcher]

As you might have guessed from the title I'm completely new to this sailing thing. AAMOF, just got the boat in the yard two days ago.

The wife has wanted a sailboat for years and somehow for my birthday and father's day she got one (LONG story) and I'm going to need tons of help. BTW, its a 1975 O'Day 20.

Two things right off the bat. . .I can see water in the bilge (nasty looking water) through the drain cover but I can't find a bilge pump nor even any place to put one. Am I just missing it?

Second, its supposed to have a swing keel. Ok, fine how do you get it to swing?

 

[Flyboy69]

My 23 Oday has a pump in it already and the switch is on the breaker panel, there's also an automatic one installed aftermarket. The swing keel on mine is controlled by a pennant line that comes out of the floor of the cockpit, just outside the companionway. My boat is a 1978 Watcher, but there may be some big differences in the two boats. Just a bit of info to help you get started on where to look anyway. Good luck with your new boat and have fun!!

 

[watcher]

Thanks for the reply.


Just where is the pump? I looked a bit
yesterday but it looks like the deck is solid over the bilge.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Watcher,
Check the sail boat data site for possible line drawing that may help. Try "I heart Oday" for pictures too. A sponge and bucket might be a good way to start or perhaps a plunger type hand bilge pump to reach down to where you can see the water. That drain cover can probably be removed.
Enjoy the project, Phil

BTW: I forgot to mention the obvious.......round up a few friends who have boats and get them to help consider the solution.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Hi Watcher,
I don't have your boat, but found the following centerboard instructions on Iheartodays.com website. You can downlaod a scanned and cleaned up version of the rigging manual from them for $10 bucks--probably a good idea if you don't have one and have limited experience. Website is:

http://www.iheartodays.com/manuals.html

Scroll to the bottom for ordering info. Here is the sample text they provide to give you an idea...

Centerboard​

The centerboard pendant exits out of the companionway and is secured on a cleat below. Be sure a figure eight knot is tied in the end of pendant at all times. Centerboard has sufficient weight to drop easily by itself. See Fig. 1.
The rope pendant should be checked for wear often and replaced when necessary. Should you wish to remove the centerboard from the trunk use 1 of two methods depending on the manufacturing method used.
1. On the first 600 or so boats built the centerboard is held into the trunk by a 1" nylon pin that extends from one side of the keel to the other and therefore can be driven out.
2. On the more recent boats the centerboard is held into the trunk by an external stainless steel centerboard hanger that is fastened to each side of the bottom of the hull. Simply remove the 6 self-tapping screws.

They also have the general specs at:

http://www.iheartodays.com/model_oday_20.html

Enjoy your new toy!​

 

[toddco]

Hello Watcher and welcome aboard!,
I also have an ODay 20. Mine is a 1976. My boat had the interior completely gutted, prior to us getting her. I have two bilge pumps plumbed together. The first is directly fore of the bulkhead wall that acts as the mast support, mine has a recess in the centerboard trunk. You should have a through hull fitting for the discharge of the bilge pump. It would be out the bottom of the hull about a foot behind the cockpit companionway and off center of the hull to starboard. The other pump is just about under the fore cockpit drain. The centerboard should have a pendant line that comes through to the cockpit in the companionway.

good luck,

Todd

 

[Sunbird22358]

Bilge pump was not standard on hte 20, or any of the smaller (under 27') O'DAYs. If there is a pump installed it was either a factory option (unlikely) or installed by a previous owner. That drain cover is most likely put there to allow inserting a hand bilge pump (the tall, tube-like kind).

One minor point, small terminology correction, the 20 (along with the later 22, and the 23, 25, and 26, 192, and 222) had a Keel/Centerboard, that is a centerboard housed within the keel. O'DAY did not build ANY swing-keel boats and often went to great lengths to list the reasons that their K/CB designs were superior to their competitors' swing-keel designs (and as a former owner of a "swing-keel" CAL 21, I'll agree with most of those claims). The centerboard will "swing", but the Keel stays fixed in place on the O'DAYs.

I found a picture of a 1974 (but might be '75?) 20 showing the location of the CB control line. It is possible that the CB trunk is clogged up with dirt and/or slime/scum/icky stuff and that is stopping the CB from dropping easily. Running a thin strip of metal back and forth between the CB and the inside of the trunk (housing) may free it. You could also CAREFULLY aim a stream of high pressure water up in there, but be careful not to use too much pressure (and obviously, watch out while doing any of this as the CB may suddenly drop).

 

[watcher]

Thanks to everyone the info has helped. Now if ya'll could just send me some time I'd put that advice to use.

I do have another question about the keel. Looking at the drawing I don't see any type of locking mechanism. Is there one or is it just held in place by its own weight?

 

[Indysailor]

There should be a cleat to tie off the cb pendent.

 

[Sunbird22358]

The CENTERBOARD is free to pivot up if you hit bottom, as mentioned above the line is used to pull it up as well as hold it from dropping more than you need. This boat is a Keel/Centerboard boat and does not depend on the CB for stability (that is preventing heeling / tipping) but only for leeway prevention and to improve steering control. All of the ballast is inside the shallow, fixed-keel. Adjusting the CB up and down also helps to adjust the balance of the effects of the sails on directional control, lowering CB will reduce Lee-Helm (tendancy of boat to turn the bow away from the wind) and raising hte CB will reduce Weather-Helm (tendency of boat to turn the bow into the wind). There are, of course limits to those adjustments, and normally you want to have just a bit of weather-helm for safety. If you sail in higher winds using just the Mainsail, raise the CB partway to move the balance of the helm aft to reduce the increased weather helm, experiment with these settings as you sail to "dial in" the best feel.

BTW: I think you will find that this forum is as good as any "FAQ" for sailing. Don't feel ashamed to ask questions, someone else may have the same question, but is too timid to ask! We may "growl", but so far...none of us have bitten anyone as far as I know... <GRIN!>

 

[garygagnon]

Hi Watcher:

I just sold my 20 for a 23. I loved how easy it was to trailer. There is no bilge pump. Get a bicycle type of portable pump that fits through that access hole.