O'Day 20 Centerboard/Keel Question

Sunbird22358 · Dec 24, 2011

Andy, the centerboard should retract fully into the keel and yes, the keel would be best resting on the trailer. Depending on whether you will be keeping the boat on the trailer all the time (except while using boat) or if you will keep the boat in the water for the season then store her on the trailer for the winter, will determine the fix. If the boat will be on the trailer only for winter storage, then you could insert a couple of blocks between the trailer crossmembers and the keel, removing them before launching (or perhaps before leaving home to launch, like hte wedges that I use to steady my DS II on her trailer). If you will be trailering the boat instead of keeping her in the water, then finding a more permanent support under the keel will be best.
Possible reasons for the centerboard to not retract fully include CB is too big (CB is to wide across cord), or pivot hole might be in wrong spot? Perhaps the CB pennant is attached wit ha shackle that is too big / long? that would then hit the top of the slot before the CB is all the way up. Is the board original? Did it break and a previous owner just re-attached the pennant in a new spot and now the pennant doesn't line up with the tube?

You may need to raise the boat enough to lower the CB to a point where you can see the pennant attachment...... make sure line attaches to CB correctly.

Finally, and the above might determine this....... is there something inside the slot that is stopping the CB from retracting? One 222 owner discovered a fishing lure jammed in his CB slot....removed it and found the CB now retracted fine! <GRIN!!>

I included a couple of pics, they show the CB and how one O'Day 20 sits on her trailer.

CPseudonym · Dec 24, 2011

andybassman said:
Merry Christmas to all.

On my new to me 1974 O'Day 20 the centerboard does not fully retract into the keel so that the centerboard is flush with (or hidden inside) the bottom of the keel. When fully retracted the centerboard hangs down about 1" below the keel at the rear end. When the boat is on the trailer, all the weight is supported on the bunks with no weight placed on the keel.

The width of the centerboard is about 9.5" which appears to a little more than the depth of the keel slot.

My questions are: 1) Is this the way the O'Day 20 is designed so that the keel does not fully retract? and 2) Can all the weight of the boat be carried on the bunks when trailering without causing damage to the hull? Is support on the keel essential?

The reason I ask is because I would like to adapt my trailer so that some weight is carried on the keel, but I would not want the centerboard supporting the weight of the boat. It would most likely cause damage to the centerboard.

Thanks in advance, Andy

Hi Andy,

I have a 1978 model in the driveway. I just opened the hatch on this time capsule and have discovered a largely intact and un-modified stock boat. In the next few days I will upload some photos of the fully retracted keel and the way it sits on an unmodified factory stock trailer. Let me know if there are any specific photo's you would desire and I'll do my best to post them soon.

~Craig

Joe11688 · Dec 24, 2011

Andy,
I know very little about the O'Day 20 but it appears to me that the centerboard should go all the way up into the keel slot like it does on my O'Day 222. The only way you're going to find out what's going on with it is to get the boat part of the way off the trailer to expose the keel and take a good look at it, or have it lifted which is probably safer and easier. It's possible that the centerboard shackle is hitting the top of the keel slot and preventing the board from going all the way up. I think that it's important to take a good look at that shackle anyway and see what condition it's in along with the condition of the pendant line connection on the shackle.
I had to replace a stainless steel cotter pin on my shackle a couple of years ago. It's a good thing I took a look at it.
Several years ago I removed the centerboard from my boat and I learned quite a bit about how it was put in there but I really couldn't tell you how they put the centerboards in the O'Day 20s. It could be all together different than mine.

On the O'Day 222 the centerboards have to be taken out through the bottom of the keel. The pivot pin is made of nylon and it's held in place by two fiberglass wedges which are caulked into rabbet grooves on both sides of the inside keel slot. Stainless steel plates with four Phillips head machine bolts and two wood screws hold these wedges in place at the bottom of the keel on both sides of the keel slot.
My particular model has a single sheave tucked way up inside the keel slot in a special small pocket where the centerboard pendant line rides through. Some keel/centerboard 22s,23s, and 25s don't have this sheave. If the pendant line pipe comes straight down to the top of the keel slot with no bends in it, chances are the slot doesn't have the single sheave.
Perhaps someone who has checked the centerboard on his O'Day 20 will chime in and give you some info on it. If not, the only way you're going to find out is to try and get at the under side of the keel and let the board down.

LordNelson · Dec 25, 2011

have you tried pushing up on the board to see if will retract? mine hangs down alittle while on the mooring just from the strech in the line i use to haul it up and down. my trailer has keel rollers with the bunks just providing balance. i haven't had a problem.

Joe11688 · Dec 25, 2011

There could be something wedged up in the top of the slot that is preventing the board from going all the way up. A flashlight and a thin 16" stick could remove it if that is the case. Good luck Andy. Santa was good to you this year Andy.

Joe11688 · Dec 26, 2011

andybassman said:
I found the cause of the problem. The centerboard was too long and the bottom edge was hitting the keel slot at the rear most point. Apparently the keel had been replaced at some point in time, or it was re-set with a new hole drilled in the incorrect location.
To slove this, I used a sawzall and trimmed about 1/2" off the bottom of the keel. Now it fits into the slot fully retracted. When the weather warms up I will fiberglass the bare wood on the end of the keel.
Thanks again for your comments and suggestions.

So you think that the centerboard had been replaced and the PO didn't match up the hole correctly for the new board and as a result the board was too long for the slot? That sounds quite possible.
I know that when Rudy at D&R Marine sends out tip up rudder blades and centerboard replacements, they don't come pre drilled. The Owner has to drill them out. A friend of mine in OH sent Rudy the broken upper part of his O'Day 222 centerboard and Rudy was able to match up the two boards and drill it for him years ago.
I don't think that a 1/2" will have any effect on her sailing ability. I lowered the pintles on my rudder about 1" many years ago to raise the rudder head enough to make room for my O'Day 25 tiller and I never experienced any difference in the helm.
Hey! You got that problem solved Andy! What an incredible winter this has been so far.

O'Day 20 Centerboard/Keel Question

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