Hello everyone.....I just bought a 17' Oday DaySailer this summer from a friend. Its in pretty rough shape, but it still sails. Just thought I would get on this Forum to try to gain some great knowledge and help. I have only sailed the boat 3 times and am fairly new to sailing but I'm getting better. So any help would be great!!
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If you have no background or experience,
I would advise you to take a sailing and seamanship course from your local Auxilliary or Power Squadron. Operating the boat itself is only a small part of what you need to know to keep you, your family/friends, and others safe.
I would advise you to take a sailing and seamanship course from your local Auxilliary or Power Squadron. Operating the boat itself is only a small part of what you need to know to keep you, your family/friends, and others safe.
welcome
Keep the stick in the air and the pointy end towards the waves
Best of luck. By the way, the O'Day Owners specific forum of this site is the best place to get information about your particular boat. Many of folks there will be eager to give you advice and share their experiences.
I second the safe boating course. ASA 101 is also a good choice. "Two types of folks out there on the water, boaters and sailor, you want to be the latter"
Keep the stick in the air and the pointy end towards the waves
Best of luck. By the way, the O'Day Owners specific forum of this site is the best place to get information about your particular boat. Many of folks there will be eager to give you advice and share their experiences.
I second the safe boating course. ASA 101 is also a good choice. "Two types of folks out there on the water, boaters and sailor, you want to be the latter"
Boating education
I have also taken the Powerboat Squadron course. Actually Ive taken it twice. the course isn't all about powerboats but more about seamanship. How to read a chart, coastal navigation,knot tying etc. Another benefit is that some insurance companies give a discount if you have a completion certificate. Ray T
I have also taken the Powerboat Squadron course. Actually Ive taken it twice. the course isn't all about powerboats but more about seamanship. How to read a chart, coastal navigation,knot tying etc. Another benefit is that some insurance companies give a discount if you have a completion certificate. Ray T
Books, network, and hands-on
Seems you're off on the right track. Got a fixer-upper boat that you can learn all about maintenance on - excellent!
Books: there's lots of books on sailing. Check out the used book stores and find a few that tweek your interest. You're obviously on a very steep learning curve so what ever you get will probably be helpful. Dingies and daysailers fall into a class that are often for racing. The Daysailer was a really nice boat for couples to 'cruise' in because it was dry and had a cuddy. Most boats that size today tend to be more sport-boat like, i.e., wet and tender. So the Daysailer is more forgiving.
The Daysailer was patterned after the Falcon, an earlier design that was a tad smaller at just under 16 feet. The Falcon design hailed from the late '30s/early '40s.
Network: talk to other people who sail. Maybe volunteer to crew, etc.
Don't forget to protect your skin and eyes from sun damage.
You're on the right track so hope it works out well.
Seems you're off on the right track. Got a fixer-upper boat that you can learn all about maintenance on - excellent!
Books: there's lots of books on sailing. Check out the used book stores and find a few that tweek your interest. You're obviously on a very steep learning curve so what ever you get will probably be helpful. Dingies and daysailers fall into a class that are often for racing. The Daysailer was a really nice boat for couples to 'cruise' in because it was dry and had a cuddy. Most boats that size today tend to be more sport-boat like, i.e., wet and tender. So the Daysailer is more forgiving.
The Daysailer was patterned after the Falcon, an earlier design that was a tad smaller at just under 16 feet. The Falcon design hailed from the late '30s/early '40s.
Network: talk to other people who sail. Maybe volunteer to crew, etc.
Don't forget to protect your skin and eyes from sun damage.
You're on the right track so hope it works out well.
Welcome To The Family Duck Hunter
Like everyone here has said, the most important piece of advice you have been given with regard to any help would be to find an approved safe boating course. Your state agency, the Coast Guard, the USPS and or any recognized sailing associationg will be able to do this. We have taken courses from the Coast Guard, the USPS and through the American Sailing Association.
You will find that with the ASA, you will be presented with a log book that tracks your educational accomplishments and that document will be of invaluable aid if you ever determine that perhaps you wish to do a charter sometime and somewhere away from home. If you ever wish to charter, no owner of a boat will cut you loose without some sort of proof that you know how to handle the vessel safely; this document will be the proof you need.
Someone mentioned ASA 101, which is the basic keelboating course. It includes the approved portions of the safety course and basic concepts of the process itself. In addition to providing documentation that will soon be required nationwide, you will get insurance discounts. This course will teach you terminology, all of the parts of the boat and their functions, the concepts of sailing and how to use the wind, currents and tides, seamanship and actual time in a boat with a captain that will have you do a variety of techniques to demonstrate proficiency. You will learn how to do the figure eight drill for picking up someone that has gone overboard, how to dock under different conditions, anchorage, hoisting sails, tacking, controlled jibes, etc. It will teach you some concepts that if you don't know and understand, can generate or add frustration to what is supposed to be an enjoyable passtime.
Addtionally, you may consider joining a group of others that sail, and also find some people that race and spend time serving as a crew member aboard a boat that races. Crewing with a racing boat will teach you a lot at someone elses expense while giving you a lot of thrills.
Enjoy, just make sure you do it safe, there are way too many nitwits on the water already, please don't be another one out there.
Like everyone here has said, the most important piece of advice you have been given with regard to any help would be to find an approved safe boating course. Your state agency, the Coast Guard, the USPS and or any recognized sailing associationg will be able to do this. We have taken courses from the Coast Guard, the USPS and through the American Sailing Association.
You will find that with the ASA, you will be presented with a log book that tracks your educational accomplishments and that document will be of invaluable aid if you ever determine that perhaps you wish to do a charter sometime and somewhere away from home. If you ever wish to charter, no owner of a boat will cut you loose without some sort of proof that you know how to handle the vessel safely; this document will be the proof you need.
Someone mentioned ASA 101, which is the basic keelboating course. It includes the approved portions of the safety course and basic concepts of the process itself. In addition to providing documentation that will soon be required nationwide, you will get insurance discounts. This course will teach you terminology, all of the parts of the boat and their functions, the concepts of sailing and how to use the wind, currents and tides, seamanship and actual time in a boat with a captain that will have you do a variety of techniques to demonstrate proficiency. You will learn how to do the figure eight drill for picking up someone that has gone overboard, how to dock under different conditions, anchorage, hoisting sails, tacking, controlled jibes, etc. It will teach you some concepts that if you don't know and understand, can generate or add frustration to what is supposed to be an enjoyable passtime.
Addtionally, you may consider joining a group of others that sail, and also find some people that race and spend time serving as a crew member aboard a boat that races. Crewing with a racing boat will teach you a lot at someone elses expense while giving you a lot of thrills.
Enjoy, just make sure you do it safe, there are way too many nitwits on the water already, please don't be another one out there.
Thanks ITMaster
That is what I was looking for. Thank you for explaining to me, it made it A LOT more interesting. I live on a lake here in Mid Coast Maine and have the ocean less then a mile away. Right now I am just practicing on the lake, that way I can't get into too much trouble. I grew up on the water and have used a lot of motor boats, but I see what you mean about needing to know the parts of the boat and rigging in sailing, there is a lot to learn. Thanks Again!!
That is what I was looking for. Thank you for explaining to me, it made it A LOT more interesting. I live on a lake here in Mid Coast Maine and have the ocean less then a mile away. Right now I am just practicing on the lake, that way I can't get into too much trouble. I grew up on the water and have used a lot of motor boats, but I see what you mean about needing to know the parts of the boat and rigging in sailing, there is a lot to learn. Thanks Again!!
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