O'Day 23 ID help please?

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Apr 26, 2013
24
Oday 23 Harvey's Lake
Found this 23 while driving. Snapped a quick pic of it with my phone and examined it in photoshop. Wow! I enlarged the pic to examine everything. I see what appears to be an outboard sticking out of the hull under the cockpit????? I never saw a 23 before and admit to being a newbie here! I wonder if there is another boat in the back ground or did they make a 23-2 with this "outboard thru-hull option. Its so far away to take another look. Does anyone know what might be pictured here?
Thanks
Jojo



 

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Jun 2, 2004
1,952
Oday Day Sailer Wareham, MA
The OMC "ZEPHYR" 15 HP saildrive was an option for a few years on the O'DAY 23. This appears to be one of the rare 23s so equipped. The Zephyr was a 2-stroke, gas engine, actually a "de-tuned" 35 hp Johnson/Evinrude outboard powerhead mated to a saildrive lower-unit. A lot more 25s were sold with this option than 23s, but it was available. The Zephyr was the original "standard" inboard for the 28, but may have been a bit under-powered for that boat.
This was a $2400.00 option on the 23 in 1979. Only seemed to be offered for 1979 and 1980, perhaps 1981?
 
Apr 26, 2013
24
Oday 23 Harvey's Lake
The OMC "ZEPHYR" 15 HP saildrive was an option for a few years on the O'DAY 23. This appears to be one of the rare 23s so equipped. The Zephyr was a 2-stroke, gas engine, actually a "de-tuned" 35 hp Johnson/Evinrude outboard powerhead mated to a saildrive lower-unit. A lot more 25s were sold with this option than 23s, but it was available. The Zephyr was the original "standard" inboard for the 28, but may have been a bit under-powered for that boat.
This was a $2400.00 option on the 23 in 1979. Only seemed to be offered for 1979 and 1980, perhaps 1981?
I wondered. Thanks for the info. I have been searching and can not find a thing on this as of yet. I goal was to contact this guy and see if he wants to sell it. I kinda was shocked to see the lower unit hanging out of the hull. Wondering if you would advise buying it or if you may ward me off. I wonder how hard parts would be to get, maintenance is or repairs??
Thanks for any help/advise....
Jojo
 
Jun 2, 2004
1,952
Oday Day Sailer Wareham, MA
Well, if the engine is running OK...... it should be good. However, despite the engine being a standard outboard powerhead, the parts are getting harder to find new. The lower unit parts are even harder to find from what I've heard. Just being realistic........ the Zephyr was a nice little inboard, but if you need parts......... are they still available?
Access to the engine is better on the 23 than the 25, from what I've heard... O'DAY added a hatch in the cockpit sole right over the engine (unlike the 25, where only access was by crawling into the starboard cockpit locker!) but, the engine and saildrive unit are mostly aluminum, so saltwater corrosion is not unheard of depending on care by previous owners, including type of antifoulant paint on the lower unit. I'm not sure, but think I might see an outboard bracket on this boat?? Might be a bad sign.

Still ,if you could get the boat for a reasonable price, and the engine runs...... it will be unique! Flip-side, is that if the engine isn't running....... a new total replacement inboard saildrive will cost upwards of $10K, a new outboard is around $3K but then you will need to remove the saildrive and patch the hole in the hull. If you are handy and careful, repairing the Zephyr may be possible........ just remember, it is a 2-stroke and will require mixing oil in the fuel. It is not that hard to find an older (1977-85) Johnson/Evinrude 35 parts motor on eBay or Craig's List.......... that would be a source for powerhead parts (other years, 1986-later may work too, but 1985 was last year the Zephyr was sold.....so that was why I used those years <1977-85> as matching production run of the Zephyr)

Finally, what condition is the rest of the boat/rig in? Why is she sitting with the trailer tongue so high in the air? If you do find the owner is willing to sell, it is worth having another experienced sailboat owner look at the boat with you....
 
Apr 26, 2013
24
Oday 23 Harvey's Lake
Thank you,
That's a lot of good information. I've been searching on google and found a yahoo groups "saildrive" group. I'll have to check that out. Not sure what condition the boat is in. I drove passed it. Went back and snapped a pic. Since then I'v wanted to stop and look at it. I'll be heading out there Saturday. My friend told his cousin and he knows the man. He just said the sailboat "with it's nose up in the air" and his cousin knew who it was. I know nothing about it. My friends cousin said I should get in touch and make an offer. It's been sitting that way for 2 years. Yes, I'm handy, I can do almost anything, I had thought about patching the hole in the floor if the sail-drive fails. Not sure what the interior is like but I see ads for 1500 bucks and up for sailing condition on the the 23-2's. The way this thing sits I don't think its worth more that a grand. It's been left go for sure.
Thanks for the reply
Jojo
 
Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
...and I hope that the trailer is being propped up somehow, you can't tow it with negative tongue weight.
 
Apr 26, 2013
24
Oday 23 Harvey's Lake
Well, been a while and I bought that boat!

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This thing needs a lot of work but I picked it up for cheap. Boat was free and paid for the trailer. $500.00. Glass is in pretty nice condition. I guess I may have some questions? lol

Good or bad deal?
 
Nov 28, 2012
148
Catalina 22 #442 Somerset, Ma
seems like a cool little project you have there,i "may" be going to look at a O'day22....not as cheap as that but something to get me going regardless....good luck with your boat
 
Nov 13, 2011
166
Oday 23 New River Az
Nice save. Looks like the sail drive has been neglected. Outboard may be the best, cheapest option to get you on the water quickest. How are the sails, rigging, etc?
I love my 23, I think they are a good looking boat, and an easy sell, once cleaned up.
 
Apr 26, 2013
24
Oday 23 Harvey's Lake
Nice save. Looks like the sail drive has been neglected. Outboard may be the best, cheapest option to get you on the water quickest. How are the sails, rigging, etc?
I love my 23, I think they are a good looking boat, and an easy sell, once cleaned up.
original sails are beat. With the boat came a new spinaker and a fairly large jib. I am looking around for a second hand main. The original main is pretty beat up. Rigging seems fine. I picked a remote Johnson 9.9 (1993). Have to post a pic on that too. Motor, cables, shifter, wires ran me $600.00 I think I'm going to try to find a 35hp power head for the Omc Zephyr. The motor was submerged. For how long??????? Dont know. Its almost out and I'll crack it open and take a look at the damage.

22's are very nice. I could have had a 22 on that trailer instead of the 23. It just happened to be sitting on the side of the road and my eye spotted it. After 3 trips passed I started knocking on doors. Didn't take long to find the family. In that condition I figured they wanted to sell it.


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Nov 5, 2010
99
Oday 23 Stonington, CT
You have a 23-2. That old sail drive is a dirty, heavy, space taking beast. I would take it out. I'm very happy with my 2006 6 HP Mercury. I got a new prop, lowest pitch possible, and it powers the boat very well, top speed probably 7 knots at least. Also Mercury have complete tiller handle control, including kill switch. And its quiet. Of course, I don't know what Mercury is selling now a days.
 
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