New Sails

[Brian Schwerdt]

Only in the water for 3 weeks, and looking to improve already...

Alright, I bought a 1976 O'Day 22 last fall (masthead rig), and have started thinking about replacing the sails. They're not terrible, but I'm sure a crisp new set will be a dramatic improvement. While I'm at it, I was wondering what would other owners recommend for a head sail? I currently have a standard 100% jib. What is your experience with a larger sail, say 130% or so? Has anyone every put a gennaker on an O'Day 22? I don't know much about them, but I'd love to try one if it makes sense. I know larger boats sometimes sail with two head sails, say a gennaker and a smaller jib. Am I right that this isn't appropriate for this boat, or can it be done with the right modifications? I have to admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for the look, I think few configurations look as nice as a good cutter-style setup, but I'm not into spending big bucks to make my boat look like something it's not...thoughts?

 

[OdayDave]

Brian -

I replaced the original jib with a CDI FF2 and a new 130 jib about 4 years ago and have been happy with the change. The original sail was about a 110. The roller furler allows me to roll up to a smaller jib if needed and the sail shape is fine for my purposes. However, the big difference in performance came when I got a new main a couple of years ago. My old main was so blown out that I couldn't flatten it, and so I was always getting overpowered in moderate winds, even with a reef in the main.

I'm not completely sure how the gennaker would attach to the bow given there is no bowsprit. I was actually thinking of an assymetrical with a dousing sock since I'm thinking of sailing from Milwaukee to Door county this year. But given that I already bought an autopilot (I try to keep the major expenses down to one a year), I'll probably put that one off for a year.

I haven't sailed Oneida lake, but I did play around on Seneca a few years ago and had I had more time, would have gone up to Oswego to sail on Ontario. The 22 is a good solid coastal cruiser and its a lot of fun on bigger water.

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[Brian Schwerdt]

Thanks for the input, Dave. I was actually wondering if it's possible to add a bowsprit to the 22, if this even makes sense. Or is there another way to attach an asymmetrical/gennaker to the bow of the boat? I don't really know much about these sails and can't seem to find good information on how to set up for one. Maybe my comment about two head sails was getting ahead of myself. For now, I'm curious in what hardware I need to install to use an asymmetrical.

As for the Main, mine is quite blown out as well. I can only guess how old it is, the PO had it since he bought the boat 10+ years ago. I know replacing it will give me the most bang for the buck. The jib is in better shape, but I'd like to increase my inventory for lighter air days. It sounds like 130 is about the right size.

Oneida is a great place to cruise around - it's about 85 square miles of playground. The trouble is much of it is very shallow (less than 4 feet), so having a shoal-draft keel is a god-sent. I do plan on making my way up to Ontario one day, but right now I have a young'n (3 months old) plus Oneida has lots of islands to explore, world-class fishing, and several water-front towns to visit.

~Brian

 

[Shoaldrafter]

Brian,

You are trying to make life too difficult. A spinnaker can be attached to the bow pulpit with a block and a line. You need a block on top of the mast. With spinnakers it works best on the mast top to have a bail which allows the block to adjust to directions.

Look for a used spinnaker off a small racing boat to learn with. Lasers and R19's who race a lot often get new spinnakers and sell their used ones cheap. You do not need the perfect spinnaker to play with.

Ed K
26

 

[LordNelson]

used sails

you might try looking for sails, especially used ones, at bacon and associates. i have had good luck with them over the years.

www.baconsails.com

 

[Brian Schwerdt]

After a few more searches with keywords at hand, it turns out that my mast already has a spinnaker bail, just no block or halyard. I suppose that's easy enough to assemble. There is also a block assembly I found stashed in the cabin (see picture attached). The seller (a used dealer, not the PO) postulates that it was once used for a spinnaker, though I can't figure out how. Maybe someone has some insight? It's way too short to have been a halyard, but maybe a tack line? Can someone share a close-up of how one might attach a tack line to the bow? I don't really have any hardware forward of the forestay, and certainly no cleats to connect it to, save one on the block assembly shown. It seems like this boat has half the hardware it needs, which is really confusing. I don't have a good picture of the bow of my boat, but I can get a better one next time I'm at the lake.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[timm]

boomvang

The part in the red picture is your boom vang. The cable fits into a channel on the bottom of the boom. y has a spinnaker bail, just no block or halyard. I suppose that's easy enough to assemble. There is also a block assembly I found stashed in the cabin (see picture attached). The seller (a used dealer, not the PO) postulates that it was once used for a spinnaker, though I can't figure out how. Maybe someone has some insight? It's way too short to have been a halyard, but maybe a tack line? Can someone share a close-up of how one might attach a tack line to the bow? I don't really have any hardware forward of the forestay, and certainly no cleats to connect it to, save one on the block assembly shown. It seems like this boat has half the hardware it needs, which is really confusing. I don't have a good picture of the bow of my boat, but I can get a better one next time I'm at the lake.

Thanks again for all your help![/QUOTE]