Oday 222 - bugs, biminis, and thoughts after year1

[Bob Clyatt]

We're wrapping up our first year with the O'day 222 (1985) and have a few notes to offer to other 222 owners and prospective owners.Overall we love the thing like one of the family. It has stayed in great shape for its years, and feels solid for a boat its size. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a small cruiser.Some notes and some tweaks:a) weather helm. Get the rail in the water and boy does she come into the wind. I guess that means we're overpowered, but its pretty disconcerting the first time it happens. Your rudder just flops around in the air useless. (maybe that happens on lots of boats)b) roller furling upgrade: we had a CDI furler but it was getting pretty cranky after 15 years. We put in a Schaeffer SnapFurl, which cost about $425 in a catalog with shipping and tax, and have been very happy with it. Of course, installing it, replacing the 15-year old forestay, and modifying the jib and genoa with #5 luff tape and new stainless grommets etc cost about twice again what the roller furling did. Still it gives a lot of confidence when you want to reef the genoa or whatever knowing that your line is not going to foul or you're not going to need to fight to get the drum to turn under power.c) jacklines: for that extra measure of safety when you're the only real sailor on board (singlehanding or taking out kids and non-sailors), i slung some 1" webbing from a rockclimbing supplier (1/3 the price of west marine) from stern cleat twice through the loop at the waterline at the bow and back to the opposite stern cleat, then clip in with a harness and a 6' connector. Haven't 'tested' it yet in real life overboard manouvers but it feels great.Still to come- bugs and bimini: trying to find out how to keep the bugs out but the air flowing in when we sleep overnight onboard. Also, how to keep the rain out but the air flowing in! Am considering some sort of netting mixed with a citronella bucket in the cockpit for the former, and maybe a dodger or bimini (gulp!) for the rain problem. Any suggestions from 222 owners on this would be welcome.

 

[LR Pellett]

222 suggested solutions

I have a 1984 222. Like you, apparently, I find the boat to become overpowered under full sail in over 15 knots or so of wind. As a remedy, I added a single line mainsail reefing system from Harken which makes reducing sail area a snap. In higher winds, the boat stays better balanced and still easily gets up to hull speed (according to my knotmeter). As for the bug problem, you can get a velcro tape held screen kit from West or Boat/US that is inconspicuous when not installed and very effective when in place- while allowing the companionway and forward hatch to remain open for ventilation. Finally, when at the dock (or mooring or anchor) try making a boom tent out of a 6' by 8' (approx) tarp and hold it in place with 4 bungee cords- on from each corner. With the boom tent in place, you can keep the companionway hatch open and not get wet if it rains. I hope that you'll find these ideas helpful.

 

[Jeff]

bugs

I dont have a 222 but this works great on my 272. I went to a fabric store and bought some netting(i think its the stuff wedding veils are made from). I used some old line I had hanging around to pinch it in the hatch recess. Once I got the size down, I ironed a pocket for the line with some of that hemming stuff. It really works well, and no velcro.