O'Day 19 "Weekender" Stability/Safety

[yeahmag]

As some of you have been following I've stumbled in to an all-but-free O'Day 19 that I'm making shipshape. I'm hoping to launch this weekend, but can't get out of my mind that the boat is not self righting and has such little ballast (300lbs).

This for me has been a struggle as I've sailed 25'+ and 14'- boats. The big boats obviously never had any issues like this, my old Cal 25 for example. The small boats were small enough that going over was part of the fun.

Any thoughts on the seaworthiness of this boat? Any advice? I like to play hard, but I'm a bit nervous with this one. If I dump it with my family it's not going to be a laugh and a few minutes standing on the center board...

Thanks!

-Aaron

 

[kpgraci]

I've not sailed any dinghys (and I don't think the Oday 19 falls into that category) but I know with unballasted boats the crew is the ballast. Sounds like with a 300lb keel and not self-righting you are half way between a keel boat and a dinghy.

Like the saying goes with motorcycles: there are only 2 kinds of drivers - those that have gone down and those that will go down.

I would suggest some (perhaps many) practice sails and even an intentional knockdown to see how it handles before you take out the family.

 

[yeahmag]

Yeah... Just not sure about that with this size boat. I definitely can not right it without a power boat if it goes over.

 

[Pafb]

I too have an oday 19 and love sailing that boat. No the boat is not designed to self right but I would not worry about dumping it. Will it heel over pretty good in a stiff breeze - you bet! However it will round up long before you think it will dump you. It is a blast to sail solo but you put a couple of adults in the boat and the weight really has an impact. I have taken it out in some pretty good breezes and get a severe weather helm which bothers more than the heel. It's a fun and stable (and rare if it is a true 19) boat - enjoy!

 

[yeahmag]

It is a true 1979 O'Day 19. Thanks for that. I'm getting pretty excited for Sunday now! I had my Cal 25 in San Pedro (aka. Hurricane Gulch) and while I won't be taking it there, I do hope to see what she can do!