ODay Javelin: I need advice

[John Kotlanger]

I was an ODay 26 owner for nearly 12 year and loved the boat. I had to sell it to put my daughter through school. I have recently purchased a used 1972 ODay Javelin through an EBay auction that seemed a reasonable price. Outside of boat looked good but for a bit of crazing and usual wear and tear. I opened up the inside port and found that it was awash in water and little pieces of foam floation were sloshing about. I think that the boat is sound but have no way to inspect. I pumped out the water which came out brown and full of floation debris. I am thinking of trying to wash out the inside with a mixture of outside Clorox and then pumping all of the water out to get rid of the mold. After it dries should I be trying to install new foam floation? What can I do to verify that the transom has not rotted? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Brian]

Javelin

Sounds like a fun project. Yes, I would replace the foam if it is missing, if it is present but just looks bad then no. As for the transom, with the water as you descibed it may be rotted. I would consider it suspect and would check. I would use a small (1/16") drill bit and make exploratory hole low on the inside, don't penetrate through the transome. If it comes out clean and dry and the core looks healthy, yippe! If not you have some work ahead. The hole can be easily filled and gel coated.God Bless and good luck.