Thanks for the replies!!
It is a 79. I would love to see how another is rigged and how you step the mast. Mine does have mini stays and the previous owner said he stepped it solo but I don't have a gin pole. Not sure.
I am also not setting the boomvang and out haul correctly. I will learn but it would be cool to have someone walk me through it. It would be very cool to go out to Hingham with another 19! I am up for it.
Here is a pic of my hull - and the reason I would like to recoat. Let me know your opinion.
Thanks again!
The photos show a very rough bottom!
My O'Day 19 came that way, too. It was my first "real" boat (had requisite portable toilet and a semblance of privacy) after a season on a Hobie Cat 14.
In it's previous life, it was moored in the Hudson River and had several layers of ablative antifouling bottom coat that had seen better days. It was chalky and rubbed off everywhere. The O'Day decals were cracked and pealing off. Ultimately, I removed all of it to the bare white gelcoat. The bottom had several deep scratches (and a few repairs) so I decided to put on a good West Systems epoxy barrier coat (with black carbon additive) and fully painted the topsides with Interlux 2-part Perfection (I had "Matterhorn White" on hand, but "Cream" would have been much closer to the original O'Day color).
Redoing the bottom is a very good thing to do especially over the winter. Boat stands would be nice to have since it is much easier to scrape all the paint off when it is not on a trailer. But you can put blocks under the stern (after cleaning that end off) — this link shows you the concept. I have used it with larger boats. It is a good opportunity to inspect the centerboard and its hardware (safety maintenance).
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These photos were taken just after painting while I was putting the hardware back on. The windows (deadlights for the technical term obsessed) were not yet on. The jib traveler and side shroud chainplates are in their proper positions (mine were previously "modified" after an old undisclosed mast accident). I had a pair of swivel-base cam cleats and am using them for the jib sheets.
I trailer-sail this boat. It comes out of the water after no more than a few days so I don't bother with an anti-fouling paint.
Your 1979 MK1 mast is about 3 feet longer than my 1983 MK2 mast. It should have two pairs of shrouds — one pair that goes to the top, another shorter pair going near the spreaders. There is one forestay and one backstay.
I attach (keep attached) the shrouds and backstay before lifting the mast. The mast needs to be supported at the stern to be higher than the mast mounting plate on the cabin top so you can attach the mast foot. With the companionway closed, I simply walk the mast up like I would an extension ladder. I have used the mainsheet blocks attached to the jib halyard and stem fitting, but I usually simply use the jib halyard to support the mast if I need to pause. Once the mast is about 60° up, the side shrouds begin to support it laterally.