New Owner Ques.

[Marcus]

I am the proud new owner of a '84 Oday 23, "Ariel" which I recently acquired and plan on sailing in the Boston harbour area this summer. When I got the boat it didn't come with an owner's manual, but Rudy the O'day Guru at D & R Marine was able to provide one. Since getting her in the water and stepping the mast I have come across a couple questions the manual didn't answer, and was hoping someone could help point me in the right direction. The topping lift doesn't appear to have a halyard to regulate the tension, it is just a wire from the top of the boat. Most boats I've sailed have either had an adjustable topping lift or none at all. Is this normal? Does the main take the tension off it when raised? Also, I fortunatly don't have the sticking centerboard problems that appear to be fairly common, but would like to replace the line that controls it's raising/lowering. I can't seem to find access to it from inside the boat. Can anyone tell me where the access is to the centerboard and if it is possible to even change the line?I am looking forward to responses to these questions and from others with whom I will be sharing the waters of Boston Harbour. Thanks.

 

[Mike]

Easy answers

Welcome to the O'Day 23 owners club. The topping "lift" isn't a lift at all --its really just a topping line that deadheads at the mast head. You are correct in your assumption that the raised mainsail will take the load off of the line. The topping line will be slack while sailing, but this is no big deal. When you first install the boom, tie the topping line to the fixture at the end of the boom so that the boom sits at the height you choose. This height should be at least a few inches lower than the height the boom achieves when the main is raised. Granted, this is all a matter of taste, but I like to have the main (and consequently the boom) sit high when raised. This gives more jibe-proof head room when sailing. When the sail is lowered, the boom lowers until stayed by the topping line. I also installed a sailtrack stop below the boom to steady the gooseneck on the boom at the mast when the main is furled. Five dollars well spent.Replacing the centerboard pennent line is pretty easy while the boat is out of the water. There is no access to the line from inside. Simply untie the stopper knot on the end of the line that is in the cockpit, and use duct tape to fasten the butt end of your new line to the old. Don't make it too fat a connection since it has to go through the tubing through the keel. You could also sew a couple of stitches through both lines for extra strength. Then pull the old line (and new) through the hull from outside (see why this is easy when the boat is out of the water?). Your new line will come right through. Replace the stainless fixture attaching the line to the centerboard while you are at it. Good luck.

 

[Mike Basham]

Interesting!

Welcome Marcus and thanks Mike! I've got a 1972 23' O'Day. Mine didn't have a topping lift or line when I purchased it a year ago. I hated not having one. So, I installed a pulley on a longer bolt through the backstay at the masthead, and use it for an adjustable topping lift. Works great, as long as I remember to put a little extra slack in it after raising the main! Otherwise, I get this really annoying flapping of the leach!Also, I just received a new mainsheet pulley/cam. It's the same one used on a MacGregor 25, and I think it's going to work a lot better than the old unfair angled fairlead and cam as originally equipped. Can't wait to try it out!