O Day 20 New Owner/ Questions about Weights in Forward Hull

[Quackattacker]

I am new to the sailing world. I have always wanted a sailboat but never took the plunge.....until now. I purchased a 1977 O Day 20 with a trailer and 8 hp motor for 1800.00. My brother who has owned a sailboat before has helped me with the ins and outs of what to look for. I would say the boat is in good condition but definitely needs some TLC. I have started with the basic cleanup and have a few questions.

1. Underneath the small sink compartment was some rotted out laminate type of wood. When I removed this I noticed that in behind that, towards the bow, was a lot of Styrofoam and some plastic barbell weights as well as some other molded metal weights. I have seen 3 of the barbell weights each weighing about 10 pounds apiece. Is this common? Surely this is not from the factory, right? I assume that the previous owner just added more weight to the bow of the boat.

Thanks in advance for the help and I'm sure this wont be the last question.

 

[TLW]

Re: O Day 20 New Owner/ Questions about Weights in Forward H

I'm guessing someone was trying to "improve" the boat with additional ballast. I once sold a small cruiser to a guy who, after a few sails, went home and filled the bilge and several inches of the cabin floor with cement. What can you say! In your case, I would get the weights out of there, get your clean-up and prep done, and GO SAILING.

 

[Quackattacker]

Re: O Day 20 New Owner/ Questions about Weights in Forward H

Thanks for the insight. Can't wait. Standby for more dumb questions.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Re: O Day 20 New Owner/ Questions about Weights in Forward H

There are no "dumb questions", only dumb people that don't ask questions is what someone once told me.

Perhaps a previous owner added those weights to try to trim the bow lower when he/she had a crowd in the cockpit? I'd remove them just as TLW said.

 

[hp18carr]

Re: O Day 20 New Owner/ Questions about Weights in Forward H

As been said sailing first... but as you go through your sailboat give us other Oday owners some eye candy if you can. Big or small Oday the more photos the better in my book. Smooth sailing when you get the chance.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
22' Oday 1973
(Old Yellow for now)

 

[Quackattacker]

Re: O Day 20 New Owner/ Questions about Weights in Forward H

To All
Thanks for the input. I will start posting pictures next week. I hope to sail in a couple of weeks.

 

[sailinsally]

Centerboard issues at all with ODay20?

Hope everything is going well with your 20. Was just wondering if your centerboard is fully operational? Ours is stuck in the up position, the centerboard line housing/pipe seems to have some issues too. This looks like an ongoing problem that our vessel has had. If your centerboard is fully operational - and you happen to have any photos of the centerboard line housing, that would be most helpful - we can not tell what is missing or wrong - no drawings found or close ups. Snorkeling might be in our future. Thanks and hope you are enjoying your ODay 20 by now.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Sailinsally, do you know what year your 20 is? 1973-75 or 1976-78 ranges might be close enough. One clue is the type of rig, 1973-75 is masthead rig (mast was shorter and forestay goes to top of mast, 1976-78 was fractional rigged, with a taller mast and forestay attaches to mast about 3/4 of height. The centerboards setup was different for the 2 versions as well, later boats had a shorter, wider CB (when veiwed from the side) the earlier boats had a deeper, narrower CB, I think the basic position of hte CB pendant (line to raise/lower) was the same in the boat, but the dimensions of the CB trunk were different. Cabin layout was different too, 1973-75 had more or less a smaller version of the 22 interior, 1976-78 has a more open interior without a main bulkhead dividing hte cabin. (Cabin structure was re-designed to allow this, so don't anyone think they can just remove the bulkhead from an early 20!

Anyway, drawings below. (dark hull boat is the 1976-78)