O'Day 27 Mainsheet rigging

[Mitch27]

So, first I'm brand new to sailing. I took a class, have some books and now have an O'day 27.
My problem is the person who had it before me didn't sail it (just lived aboard) and I don't think the person before him left everything.

Specifically the mainsail sheet rigging (I know I'll get these terms wrong...sorry in advance.)
In looking at pictures of other O'day 27's many have a traveler across the cabin (i'd rather not do that right now.) Also some of the smaller odays seem to have the mainsheets attached to a triangular plate on the backstay. My o'day basically has nothing. No traveler and no place that I can see to attach a fiddle block.

What I seem to see from pictures I can find online is that the mainsheet rigging is attached to the stern and that seems to be what the manual indicates. ("Mainsheet Attach fiddle block to boom and reeve line through the block with the cam cleat attached to the stern. ")

However I don't see anywhere on my stern to attach a block with a cam cleat. Do I attach it to the base of the backstay? Honestly I don't know what the "original" system would have been. Right now there is just a line from the end of the boom, down to a block on one end of the stearn (kind of outside) then back to the boom and back down to a block on the other side. Seems like this is just to keep it in place though.

Ideally, I think getting a fiddle block and attaching it to the stern would be the easiest and the best set up for me at first. It seems like it would give the most room in the cockpit and I think it would work well for me. I just don't want to attache to the backstay and then have the force rip out the backstay or bend something. Or on the other hand put an attachment point on if I don't need one.

Any help to a brand new O'day owner would be appreciated. I'm happy to send pictures if needed.

 

[agprice22]

Maybe it looks like this:

It is a 4:1 fiddle block with a cam cleat attached to the bottom. It is shackled to a plate inserted in the backstay. The line is reeved through another fiddle block with a beckett, shackled to the end of the boom.

Understand that your boom is designed for either midboom or endboom mainsheet. That means that where you attach the mainsheet blocks is important, as the boom is not designed for a different kind of load.

 

[nightowle]

I have a 1975 O'Day 27. The traveler track is mounted against the transom about 3" down from the top. The mainsheet block is attached to the end of the boom and reverts to the traveler track. I like this setup with tiller steering b/c I can easily adjust the main or move the traveler up or down on the track all from the same area and it doesn't put any pressure on the back stay. I can try and take some pictures for you this weekend. I just noticed you're in Seattle, too. You can stop by and see my boat on Lake Union.

 

[Mitch27]

Thanks for the picture agprice22. I don't have the plate on my boat, but it looks like it is rigged from the back of the boom.
Here is a picture:

Stern

• Mitch27
• Jul 1, 2016

I could put a plate on the backstay I suppose. I found one online: http://www.drmarine.com/proddetail.asp?prod=O192-64
Not sure if you can buy the short cable below it or if I would just have to make one up.

That would be great nightowle if you could post a picture. I think I prefer attaching to the stern instead of the backstay. Is there a reason why I would want a traveler instead of just a fixed anchor point on the stern? Again I'm new to this, but I have found a picture of an oday 27 online (I'll attach pictures below) where it looks like there is just a fixed anchor on the stern. Seems like that would be the simplest just to get me out on the water. (Edit: I've been doing some reading and I do get the benefits of a traveler. Just wondering if a fixed point would be an acceptable option for starters. I can always upgrade later.) I'm just not sure the best way to attach something so it's strong enough.

IMG_2258

• Mitch27
• Jul 1, 2016

Where are you at on lake Union? I'm going to be down at Shilshole most of the weekend working on my boat (fixing up the cabin and have some work to do on the outboard) and might swing by and take a look.

 

[agprice22]

I would not go rearranging your backstay. I would follow the last picture posted. You would still need to arrange a traveler. It looks like the PO was hauling the boom to windward with that line run between the gunwales.

 

[Sprega]

Me and a couple of friends sailing an O27 across the gulf of Alaska. 1976 or 77. The boat was pretty new and box stock. It's a good image of the simplicity of the original main sheet location and mounting. "Miss Izzy" still has the tang for mounting the main sheet on her transom