Oday Widgeon, center board well

[hcarson1]

Having read some of the forum items concerning widgeons, I'm concerned about my boat. I just purchased a widgeon. I've only had experience with dagger boards. I haven't had the boat in the water yet due to low lake levels at Tahoe. In the forum responses, I've seen comments concerning a centerboard operating handle. There is no such thing on my boat, just some lines and pulleys through a hole in the top of the well. The boat is on a trailer so I can't operate it yet. I am installing some rope hoists in the garage to lift the boat off the trailer and let me get under it. Any suggestions to this matter are appreciated.
Hal

 

[Sunbird22358]

The lever-operated centerboard is on the 1963-70 models (and 1990 and newer), if your boat has the line-operated Cb that means she is a 1971-89 model. The 1971-83 models have a forward deck and molded-in side seats, the 1984 and later have no forward deck, but the molded-in seats extend forward of the mast forming a sort-of "sunken" foredeck.
I'll add a diagram and a few pics showing the CB rigging for your boat, the exact setup changed slightly over the years, but it it will give you an idea. These diagrams are from my Expanded Widgeon Manual.

 

[hcarson1]

From hcarson1

Many, many thanks Sunbird. The diagrams came through clear and printable. I need to get out to storage and see how they match up. I may not need to lift the boat off the trailer after all. Mine does have the molded in side seats. Comments I've read in the forum pages indicate the boat will not point higher than about 45 degrees. That true? Anyway, I had a Hobie One. Had to sell as I don't scramble as well as I used to. Looking forward to something more sedate such as the Widgeon. The only other issue is stepping the mast. I have managed it one time when I bought it to see that I could handle it alone. I got it standing straight up and in the step but it was precarious.
Hal

 

[hcarson1]

from hcarson1

The lever-operated centerboard is on the 1963-70 models (and 1990 and newer), if your boat has the line-operated Cb that means she is a 1971-89 model. The 1971-83 models have a forward deck and molded-in side seats, the 1984 and later have no forward deck, but the molded-in seats extend forward of the mast forming a sort-of "sunken" foredeck.
I'll add a diagram and a few pics showing the CB rigging for your boat, the exact setup changed slightly over the years, but it it will give you an idea. These diagrams are from my Expanded Widgeon Manual.

Forgot to ask: do you know where I can purchase an operating manual for the widgeon?
Hal

 

[Sunbird22358]

Forgot to ask: do you know where I can purchase an operating manual for the widgeon?
Hal

Well, I sell copies of the one that I made up based on the original O'DAY rigging sheet, expanded based on my own Widgeon experiences ,and the various diagrams that Rudy from D&R Marine supplied to me.

Rudy also sells a copy of the Original O'DAY Rigging sheet, best to call him at (508) 644-3001 he has a web-site, but the Manual isn't listed www.drmarine.com I think he charges around $10 for that single sheet (11x17" 2-sided) plus a few other diagrams.

I ask for $15.00 to cover printing and postage, but include scanned copies of the various Widgeon Sales Brochures that I have.

Contact me by clicking on my screen name (Sunbird22358) if you want to order a copy of my booklet, or call Rudy @ D&R for his Instruction Sheet.


Like most sailboats, the Widgeon really can't point closer than about 45 deg to the wind, and in fact will sail faster if you bear off just a few more degrees. However, although she won't challenge a HOBIE Cat, I'd rate the Widgeon as a pretty good sailboat, I could keep up with (and sometimes even pass) most sailboats of similar type and size and even bigger boats were not beating me by much. I was able to step and unstep the mast without too much trouble, but my boat was the older style (1969) deck and so I could usually see the step while doing so, the newer boats (1971-83) where the mast slides in to step below deck.... may be harder. Even so, if I were trailering (I kept my boat on a mooring for the summer) I might have looked into a hinge at the seat level. (D&R has those).
One bit of advice, ALWAYS keep the mainsheet in your hand while sailing, you can use the supplied camcleat to hold the tension, but by keeping hte mainsheet in hand, you will be able to instantly release it if hit by a gust of wind and prevent a capsize.

 

[hcarson1]

widgeon sailer

Yep, very much agree about mainsheet in hand. It'll save you before the tiller can. Beside Tahoe, I've sailed mountain lakes. Winds can be spooky and change direction and speed abruptly. Tiller will cant the boat and maybe result in broaching. The Hobie one is a monohull and also sold under another name I can't recall now. Also about 12 feet but very much a round bottom boat, very fast but easy to capsize. Mainsheet in hand was good and so was the ability to scramble. I've gotten to an age where srambling is a thing of the past.
Would very much like to purchase an operating manual from you. How do I pay you?
Hal

 

[Sunbird22358]

You know, I saw "HOBIE" and just assumed "CAT" I had forgotten about the monohull HOBIEs, actually there was a whole series of models in the HOBIE ONE line, from about 9' to 17' if I recall, I think the 12' model was most popular, sort of a smaller, livelier Laser-type. I just remembered, Hobie originally called those monohull models "HOLDER", if I recall..... could have been the other way around..... Hobie One then Holder.... but I recall first seeing them called HOLDERs, a neighbor of mine (who worked as a sales rep for Hobie!) had one of the Holder 12s.
Anyway, send me a private message by clicking on my screen name, That way I can give you the ordering info without breaking the above rule. <GRIN!>

 

[hcarson1]

You know, I saw "HOBIE" and just assumed "CAT" I had forgotten about the monohull HOBIEs, actually there was a whole series of models in the HOBIE ONE line, from about 9' to 17' if I recall, I think the 12' model was most popular, sort of a smaller, livelier Laser-type. I just remembered, Hobie originally called those monohull models "HOLDER", if I recall..... could have been the other way around..... Hobie One then Holder.... but I recall first seeing them called HOLDERs, a neighbor of mine (who worked as a sales rep for Hobie!) had one of the Holder 12s.
Anyway, send me a private message by clicking on my screen name, That way I can give you the ordering info without breaking the above rule. <GRIN!>

You're right!!! The operating manual called it a Holder but the sail as I remember had the Hobie "H" on it. When I sold it, I advertised it as a Hobie One. I tried to use your sunbird name and got an icon calling for a message. When I clicked on it all I got was your profile. Not that it wasn't interesting, but not what I needed. Any thoughts.
Hal

 

[Sunbird22358]

Hal, I think new members need to have posted a certain minimum number of replies before one can send a private message to another member. I don't know why I didn't just send the ordering info in a private message to you in the first place...... I did now... So, all set!