New O'day 23 owner with a lot of questions

[Ziradog]

I just purchased a 1984 23-2, and I have a LOT of questions. First, where is the best place to pump out the bilge? I have a manual pump and I stuck the intake under the floorboard in front of the step but that does not really get all the water out. There does not seem to be any place with good access under the cockpit that I can see. Ultimately I would like to install a small hand pump (Whale Gusher or similar) and possibly an electric pump but I don't see a good spot.

Secondly, my hat has the slide out galley on the starboard side with the molded sink & a small place for a stove (rather than the slide outs on both sides with the sink on the starboard and the stove on the part). What sort of stove will fit in this? My old Origo is too big.

More questions to come I am sure.

 

[Hydro Therapy]

I don't know about the 23 but my 22 has no space for a bilge pump. I use a hand pump. The water collects above the keel. The access area isn't deep enough to accommodate a bilge pump. The hand pump removes most of the water but not all of it.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

I have a 1980, same boat. She is a good ship and you will get lots of enjoyment out of her.
I have an electric bilge pump over the keel, it is wired and hooked up on automatic (with the float) all the time directly from the battery, with a manual overide switch. It fits below the access hatch to the bilge. In a few days I can look and tell you the manufacture and modle number if you like.

My boat did not come with a stove, but it is my understanding that they originaly had alcohol stoves. Most of what I have read, folks have just replaced it with propane if at all. We bought a BBQ that hangs off the back rail and we love that so have had no interest in replacing the stove. Good luck with the new boat.

 

[Ziradog]

Thanks, and follow up

Thanks for the answers.

Scott, I assume you put the bilge pump under the big access panel in teh cabin floor? All the way toward the stern? How did you secure it, and how did you run the wires & hose?

My little propane stove would not fit in teh space provided. I have heard of people using the little butane burners, I may try that. Looks like one (or two) would fit.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Re: Thanks, and follow up

Yes it is beneith the hatch, but toward the front almost below the mast post. The pump I got fits in there perfectly and it just catches the bottom of the soul, the hatch board covers the rest. 3/4" hose is then run aft, below the cooler and out the top of the stern on the starboard side.
Wires, I have a pair of batteries mounted on a platform beneith the cocpit floor aft of the cooler. The one wire goes directly to the batteries through a fuse. The second wire for the manual overide goes to the panel located on the starboard side of the campanionway for the manual overide. The third wire is to ground. I will climb into the boat in the next day or two and give you the modle number of the pump. She is still surrounded by a giant snow pile unfortunately. God's Peace

 

[Ziradog]

Re: Thanks, and follow up

Scott, I checked my boat yesterday & I do not have a spot up by the mast. My bilge seems lowest aft (under the cooler). Also my water tank is below/aft of teh cooler under the cockpit where I think you said your batteries are. (My battery (singular) is in port locker.) I bought a "low profile" electric pump to try but still need to get some of my electrical stuff sorted out & run the hose first.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Re: Thanks, and follow up

Are you in the water or on trailer right now? On the trailer our low spot is back where you are saying, but in the water it is pretty much the flat area above the keel.

Anyhow the pump I use is the Attwood Sahara Series S500 model 4505. The only time I get water in the boat is when we use the cooler.

 

[James19955]

Re location of the bilge pump ..... I have an electric pump set up as described by Scott with an always on float and a switch on the panel - but mine is pushed under the step. My recommendation about location is to decide after you ave launched the boat and seen where the water collects. Mine always collects towards the stern. I tried to secure my pump but the adhesive gave up after a winter so I just let it sit in the bilge. Because the hose is long enough this allows me to move it around and try to push it into any water which might be there. There is always some after I turn it off which did not make it over the loop I have to prevent any back drafting from the discharge port. Hope this helps. This is a great site for advice and help as you become comfortable with the boat and learn all its little secrets.

 

[Ziradog]

James & Scot - My boat is in the water, and the area under the sole slopes aft, so the water collects under the step. Sounds like a small pump there & a sponge to get out teh rest. I don't see any good way to use a diaphragm pump mounted some where.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Sounds like you have a good plan. Go with it.