Help with what to look for over the obvious on 1979 O'day 23... any known problem areas... we are going small and shallower draft than our previous bluewater CSY 37....,any help greatly appreciated...
Ok! Greetings all... we, wife and I are looking for our next boat
- Thread starter JJShockley
- Start date
You have had other boats, so I assume you are focusing on issues specific to the Oday 23.
Stub keel and centerboard: check the pin, the centerboard, the shackle, and the pennant. Make sure they are in good repair and move freely.
Shrouds attach to internal bulkheads? Check for deck water penetration around the shroud chainplates.
Otherwise, you would check all the usual stuff.
Since your previous boat surely had an internal diesel, you should check the outboard motor mount and motor, if one is included.
I like Odays. My 272 is a nice boat.
Enjoy,
Andrew
Stub keel and centerboard: check the pin, the centerboard, the shackle, and the pennant. Make sure they are in good repair and move freely.
Shrouds attach to internal bulkheads? Check for deck water penetration around the shroud chainplates.
Otherwise, you would check all the usual stuff.
Since your previous boat surely had an internal diesel, you should check the outboard motor mount and motor, if one is included.
I like Odays. My 272 is a nice boat.
Enjoy,
Andrew
you may want to look at the mac 26 s/d/x or m they all are shallow draft and great lake boats, as they only need about 2 feet of water. Had a 26D for 8 years loved it.
Thanks for the tips... looking forward to a new refit project... wanting shallow draft as we hope to go down river to Mobile and Keys next winter... loved the CSY we had when we lived aboard but at 6'2" of draft it proved tough in ICW in spots and especially the Keys... anchorage is quite soft there and winter Qualls make anchoring more than challenging even with Rocna and all chain rode...
Oday 25 is fun too- 2"4" draft with the CB up, nice and roomy. I'm putting mine in the water in a few weeks. Has only 5'6" headroom, but it's comfy. If you get a popup 23, you won't have that problem!
One thing about the 23 is that it doesn't have a traveler. I can't remember, maybe later ones do, like maybe 1984. Anyway, this has been discussed lots of times here and none of us can devise a satisfactory way to install one in a way that doesn't really limit your cockpit configuration. Generally, it's my impression that the 23 is designed primarily for cockpit comfort, with the weird back stay mainsheet attachment and its overall simplicity. This works fine for me, but it's just a reality that it's not really got a lot of performance options.
Otherwise, the basic issues are there, as with any other 30+ year old boat; chainplates, bulkheads (which are not tabbed to the hull btw), whether or not previous owners have done the maintenance or just sailed on the hope that deck leaks would magically go away. Lastly, at this age, I'd be replacing the couple of thru hulls.
Otherwise, the basic issues are there, as with any other 30+ year old boat; chainplates, bulkheads (which are not tabbed to the hull btw), whether or not previous owners have done the maintenance or just sailed on the hope that deck leaks would magically go away. Lastly, at this age, I'd be replacing the couple of thru hulls.
One thing to look for is the sink drain hose. Most of the 23's, of that vintage, had a sliding sink and the hose and sink drain can break. The drain is slightly above static waterline but is under on a port tack and if the drain hose is not attached, water. On our boat there were no backing plates on anything, only a standard washer. Not anymore. We did have water coming in when we washed the boat (spraying up) and traced it to hull to deck joint sealant. Resealed joint, replaced the rub rail and made the boat look twenty years younger. Our hatch slides had been sanded or replaced with the wrong height and the hatch was dragging in the center. Made some slides out of Starboard and what a difference. Check the pendant tube for leaks. We installed a plastic tube inside the original tube and sealed it from the bottom. Plus the other things that have been mentioned.
The traveler issue is not a problem just stay on a port tack. Kidding. We don't raise our tiller handle, just swing it to the side, so adding a traveler will be easy. (Next months project when the boat is out of the water) The traveler will be short 24" or less to allow us to pull the main sheet above center line (similar to a Catalina 25 we had). A longer traveler and the sheet would be rubbing the stern pull pit (push pit) and with a good boomvang is not required IMO.
We have had this boat for a year now and think it's the best trailer sailor we have owned and use it a least 2 times a week all year. We are at 42 minutes parking lot to sailing and we think we found a way to get under 30 minutes. Great boat.
The traveler issue is not a problem just stay on a port tack. Kidding. We don't raise our tiller handle, just swing it to the side, so adding a traveler will be easy. (Next months project when the boat is out of the water) The traveler will be short 24" or less to allow us to pull the main sheet above center line (similar to a Catalina 25 we had). A longer traveler and the sheet would be rubbing the stern pull pit (push pit) and with a good boomvang is not required IMO.
We have had this boat for a year now and think it's the best trailer sailor we have owned and use it a least 2 times a week all year. We are at 42 minutes parking lot to sailing and we think we found a way to get under 30 minutes. Great boat.
You might consider checking the mast gate so the lowest slugs on the main will pass through cleanly when pulling the reef grommet to the gooseneck when reefing under sail ( single line reefing done from cockpit under sail ). The 23 may need a reef on some days to keep it from healing too far. It's a fun boat. Roger
Thanx all.... inspected her today, just got home... when Po gets title in hand we will put the cash in his and done deal... looking forward to many new projects... not been in salt water, never bottom painted or nor barrier coated, no blisters, not been in water since tailored from WY four year ago... no soft spots, no rot on bulk heads... needs lots of TLC, running and standing rigging... old Honda 10 ... will get new sails, new standing and running rigging... electronics etc... will need new sails.... soon the work, and "break-out-another-thousand" begins.... only paid bout what the trailer is worth
Congrats! I love my 23. Besides resealing the chain plates, I would also reseal the mast base at the same time. They tend to get soft there if not. New sails really woke my boat up. Enjoy!
edited to add: these boats do tend to develop blisters...especially when left in warm water. If you are going to bottom paint, I would consider an epoxy barrier under coat. sure would be nice to stay blister free.
edited to add: these boats do tend to develop blisters...especially when left in warm water. If you are going to bottom paint, I would consider an epoxy barrier under coat. sure would be nice to stay blister free.
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Yes, have a great numbers of refits... bottom mist be scuffed, barrier coated and painted before it ever goes in water... perfect time since its never been bottom painted and has been out of water for four years
Regards all! Fair winds, safe harbor!
Regards all! Fair winds, safe harbor!
There are 27 owner reviews here under Owner Resources and boat info:
http://oday.sailboatowners.com/resources/index.php?task=model&mid=128
http://oday.sailboatowners.com/resources/index.php?task=model&mid=128