Oday Trailer Weight Distribution

[EnamrdSalr21]

Hey all!

I'm looking into buying a new to me 1982 O'day 192. It's not in perfect condition, but I think it'll be a nice boat with a little TLC. One issue I wanted to ask about before I buy is something I noticed when examining the way the boat sat on the trailer. It looked like there were some flat spots where the trailer contacts the bottom of the hull. I read in the owner's manual that most of the weight should actually rest on the keel support bed. It also could be my imagination that they are flat spots, hard to tell when you're kinked over looking at it sideways. Now that I'm looking at this photo it looks like whoever the previous owner was just painted the boat around the trailer supports!

So I guess my question is, will this ruin the boats performance or even worse, cause leaks in the hull? Thanks all!

 

[Indysailor]

When I bought my ODay 23 it had sat each off season on a trailer with bunks, no keel support. The hull was flexed, indented at the aft section of each bunk, but there were no cracks. The hull just popped back out to it's original shape. Can't generalize from my former boat to yours but can say it was one example where it didn't cause noticable damage.

 

[jackhart]

That is normal, it should 'pop' back out.
Everything I've read about the O'Days say that you want 40 percent of the boats weight on the keel while on the trailer!

 

[Project_Mayhem]

You've got some wild looking clouds in that last pic!

What you're describing and showing in the pic is often referred to as oil canning. I had some severe oil canning on my new boat after it sat on the cradle for two years. After some stands were put under it to relieve the pressure, the hull returned back to it's normal shape. If you can avoid it by making some minor adjustments, it's recommended but 99% of the time the hull will regain it's shape

 

[EnamrdSalr21]

If I end up grabbing this boat, which I plan to, I was thinking I could try and make some minor adjustments to the trailer to relieve some of that pressure. It's good to hear that others have experience this without complete disaster! Thanks all!

 

[Indysailor]

If I end up grabbing this boat, which I plan to, I was thinking I could try and make some minor adjustments to the trailer to relieve some of that pressure. It's good to hear that others have experience this without complete disaster! Thanks all!

Yeah, that's a given, get something to support the keel. I recommend something that can be easily removed so that you can float the boat temporarily back onto the trailer for a few hours, in case you need to replace the centerboard pendant.

 

[EnamrdSalr21]

Yeah, that's a given, get something to support the keel. I recommend something that can be easily removed so that you can float the boat temporarily back onto the trailer for a few hours, in case you need to replace the centerboard pendant.

Interesting, I'm not sure I can fully visualize what you're saying. Do you have any photos as an example? I used to have an old Cal 21 and I never really found a way to get the boat in a spot where I could work underneath it. It would be nice to have that option with this one!

 

[Indysailor]

Interesting, I'm not sure I can fully visualize what you're saying. Do you have any photos as an example? I used to have an old Cal 21 and I never really found a way to get the boat in a spot where I could work underneath it. It would be nice to have that option with this one!

No pics, sorry. I just meant that if a keel board is installed, don't weld it. My thinking is that if the boat is currently just sitting on rollers then there is space enough below to lower the centerboard to expose the aft edge where the pendant connects to it. Could be wrong, but on my boat with the boat resting just on the bunks and no keel board there was room enough. In fact, I was even able to get some rigid construction insulation on the bunks to raise the boat high enough to remove the centerboard entirely so that I could replace the pin and wedges.

 

[EnamrdSalr21]

No pics, sorry. I just meant that if a keel board is installed, don't weld it. My thinking is that if the boat is currently just sitting on rollers then there is space enough below to lower the centerboard to expose the aft edge where the pendant connects to it. Could be wrong, but on my boat with the boat resting just on the bunks and no keel board there was room enough. In fact, I was even able to get some rigid construction insulation on the bunks to raise the boat high enough to remove the centerboard entirely so that I could replace the pin and wedges.

Ah Ok! This trailer does have support under the keel. I just don't know if it's balanced to where it is keeping the proper amount of weight between the hull and the keel stub. At some point I'll have to invest in jacks to be able to lift it up and work on the bottom or find someone who can allow me to use theirs... but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Thanks for the input!