OK, should I do this or forget it?

[joes new addiction]

Here's how it ALL began............
Since '88 I've had the sailing bug, but motorcycle racing, family raising, poverty, no one I knew had a boat to take me out and show me how to, kept me from doing it.
Last spring, a friend of mine told me about a guy I grew up with that was GIVING way a O Day 25' for free!
'Sheet let's go look at it"..............
Jerry (the owner), had bought her, he lives by this small lake (Lake Winola in Pa.), dropped her in and his spouse would rather be on a "floating deck"????????????? (Pontoon boat)????
The Oday has been sitting outside backed into the woods UNCOVERED for a season er 2.
Climbed up in her, open the motor hatch and it's filled with water
Cabin has 2' of H2O also, a nice coating of pine needles abound, the hull has a nice green algea?? mold?? on it also. mast laying on the ground. Has a trailer that is well good, (tires are shot)
Looking at it, "man this is a BFB! Where am I gonna work on this in the city? (Big F***ing Boat), (remember I've yet to sail, that was the first time I was ever step foot on a sailboat deck).
He tells me about the ASA classes at Lake Wallenpalpack, I take the basic course, buy a 16' AMF boat to "try this sport out" (Cheap, can be pulled by my 4 cyl truck and it was YELLOW!).
Now, I'm addicted, sell my old jeep 2 bikes.
End of last season I see a Plas Trend PT 1/4 22' boat for sale. Fell in love with the lines, thinking how much more room it has than my little 16', buy her. Spent the winter rehabbing her (just like I would have done to Jerry's).
Nice boat, but, that O Day is still SCREAMING in the back f my head to be saved.
Wife and I got to talking we're aobut to become "empty nesters".
"I got an idea", (she usually cringes when I start a sentence with that).
"I, er WE could still sail "Fever Dream", (the PT 1/4) for a while. At the end of the season I can park her along side the work shop (outta sight).
I can drag Jerry's boat home (park it along side the house on the road), restore it, you know take my time", Yada Yada Yada.
HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF THE SAILING GODS!!
She says, "go ahead if this is what you want to"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So now the questions, thoughts, suggestions from O Day owners.
The boat is STILL sitting there filled (or nearly) with water I'm assuming.
The sails are most likely shot (I saw 1 bag down below, dunno where the other is).
The motor and final drive etc. is under water, so they need to be replaced or a outboard hung off the back.
The work isn't a problem, I've restored worse shape cars, houses, have a good sized wood working shop, love to tinker.................
Ideas about the propulsion problem??.......
Cost of a used one, etc??......
I LOVE the sound of a "Die-sell" motor clanging away as she pulls away from the dock.
I'm not looking to dump TONS into it, but I will do it right. Is it worth the $$ investment, or should I pass by this one?
What should I look for hull, deck wise, known problems???
I can't remember any soft spots, (but I couldn't get pass the water, needles and the lack of attension she had gotten), but if it's a GO, I will go over it with a fine tooth comb.
It just pisses me off to look at a boat, (or a car or bike) shovel away like that!:cussing:
My sailing will most likely be at Lake Wallenpalpack, but maybe Lake Onterio (4 hours away), prehaps the Hudson, but at this point it's a slip at Lake Wallenpalpack in Pa.
Joe
See this is how it starts, I feel sorry for a machine and it ends up at my house, I end up fixing it up, go broke and sell it (most times) for a loss!

 

[Squidd]

Nope, Nope, Give it up now..

It's just gonna get worse and worse ....16'...22'...now 25'....

What's next..?? 30'...????

And Then What>>>???!!

Run away while you still can....or give up all hope ye who enter here...

Either way....Your asking the wrong people..

 

[wetass]

Unfortunately from what you describe (2' of water inside the boat) my guess is you won't get out sailing any time soon - there is bound to be rot issues, etc. Also, this boat will not be free - It will likely cost more then a sail away condition boat as your going to have to throw money at it.

 

[joes new addiction]

I HAVE 2' Itis REAL bad! Make no mistake about it!
The 22' I have now sure got small when I spent the night on her (alone).
She's a converted racing boat, so there is no bunk room, just places to "put thngs".
I figure 2-3 years of working on the O Day, whilist I still sail the PT 1/4, so I CAN be sailing and working.
The boat is a shell, that's what I figure.
I can take the extra $$ and my '2 and look for another, but...........
Joe
I still hear it calling my name!

 

[cb32863]

Sounds like you have answered your own question. I have an O' Day 25 and redid the bulkheads and some interior stuff. It can be done, I didn't plan on it like you have the luxury of doing. There is incredible support in the O' Day community as well and there is always Rudy over at D & R Marine if you need parts. Check it out thoroughly and if you really want a project boat have at it. Other people have done it and you can sail on the other boat while you restore this one. Just be very clear on what you are getting in to and what it is probably going to cost, then triple it.

Good luck either way!

 

[Joe11688]

From what you have just described, I wouldn't take it Joe. It's not worth it.

Several years ago one of my friends wanted to give me his 1975 O'Day 25 keel/centerboard sloop and I wouldn't take it because I am happy with my 1986 O'Day 222 and that was the only reason.
This boat was in pretty good condition too. I found someone in my YC who was willing to take it and I offered to sail it from Cape Cod to our club on the Taunton River for this guy.
My friend gave him the boat which had a CDI Roller Fuler, an Autohelm 1000 ST+ autopilot, fiberglass pram, and the pendant line with the pick up stick not to mention that this boat was fully found with everything plus an old Johnson outboard.

The guy hung on to the boat for two years and sold it to his wife's cousin for $3400. The boat is in the water and the owner wants to sell it for $2500. It has a mildew problem inside the cabin now but it's was a fast boat when I sailed it and she handled great.

 

[Indysailor]

The big issue here is whether the boat has rot and my guess is that has more than you want to deal with. Two inches of water in the cabin had to come from somewhere and it's very likely to have entered through the chainplates, handrails, stanchions, etc.
If you want a boat, you can find one that you can sail this year rather than in two, but if you're still that interested, walk the decks, cockpit (and seats) and cabin top carefully. If any of those places feel like they are spongy, then you have a lot of work ahead of you. Chances are, you'll feel the decks give in a lot of places like that as you walk the horizontal surfaces.

 

[AaronL]

Wow, I think I know EXACTLY where you are coming from! Except for having a sailboat already, motorcycle racing and children have taken priority until now. My wife and I have been planning on getting a sailboat in next 10 years or so, (once the last kid is out!) until three weeks ago.
We picked up an O'day 25 for $1. Life has changed dramatically since and my bike (and family) haven't gotten much attention lately whatsoever.
Ever heard the saying, "There's no such thing as a free cat"? Well, I'm sure there is no such thing as a $1 boat!
We are already loving it. It's been a ton of elbow grease so far but she is really cleaning up nice. I'll be mounting the outboard tomorrow with hopes of taking her out this upcoming weekend!
She is just a shell though since I gutted the interior which was swamped and filled with mold and bugs. The wiring is a mess too. I'm looking forward to a busy winter.
Sounds like you'll have a bit more work ahead of you, I doubt if I have anything to contribute here, especially since it sounds like your mind is made up!

Good luck

 

[Sunbird22358]

If this 25 has an inboard as it sounds from your description.....that isn't just water flooding the cabin! There will be oil in that water and possible fuel (is it gas or diesel?). Who knows what else has leaked/washed out down there. 2' of water over the floorboards might even result in the porta-pottie overflowing into the "soup".
I too have a soft-spot for "abandoned boats", but as others have said.....a "FREE" boat seldom is truly "free" and a ready to sail sister will often cost considerably less than what you could spend on fixing this boat. The only way to justify a boat like this is if you have the know-how and materials to do a top-notch restoration or rebuilding (it would allow you to customize). However, you will NEVER get even close to a full return on your investment even not including the "value" of your sweat equity.

 

[Technodad]

Joe, if you do get the 25 I suggest the best way of cleaning up the inside and outside for that matter is the way I did mine. My 23 was moldy and stank so I removed all the wood including the bulkheads and brought my pressure washer inside it and spent the next 2 hours blasting everything inside and out, I blasted off the old hull liner (which was the source of the mold and stink), I got it under the floors as far as I could go.....after the boat dried out for a couple of days she was sparkling clean inside, I was so happy I did that. My bulkheads were solid so I cleaned and rubbed more stain over them and they came out great. the interior wood comes out easily.
Remove the engine first then rebuild the engine yourself...easy.
She will still be a lot of work though. Check out the sails. they are expensive.

John

 

[Mad Dog]

Joe, it comes down to why you want the 25. I can think of three reasons -

1. You want a project because you like working with your hands

2. You want to sail a bigger boat (2 foot-itis)

3. You want a good deal

You may have other reasons too, but these come to mind as I read your post.

Sounds like you enjoy project work, in which case, be assured you'll have your hands full. Awesome, great, go for it.

But, as far as sailing a bigger boat, I don't think you're going anywhere soon. With that much water, you will no doubt have rot issues (bulkheads, compression post, cabinets, etc., are all suspect), as well as all the possible sources of water ingress (chainplates, port lights, hatches). Then you come to the electrical system and the engine. So nix on the idea of sailing a bigger boat in the near future.

As far as a good deal, from a financial perspective, this could very well be a very poor investment as all the fixes could easily outweigh the cost of a well-cared for used Oday.

For me personally, two out of three strikes. There are so many boats out there that I wouldn't waste my time. But YMMV. You may really really want a project boat for that purpose only. Otherwise, run!

 

[joes new addiction]

Between violent rain storms last night I took the 35 minute ride up to her.
Jerry was at work (works for the phone company and was out on repairs), and I could wander @ her alone.
The water is from EVERY hatch being open, no cover on her. (it a damn shame someone does this!)!!
What pisses me off even more is his pontoon boat down at the docks is all cover up nice, with a expensive looking cover, secured to the slip with nice looking new lines and he couldn't even cover this boat with a cheap "Harbour Freight" tarp and some clothes lines!!! the boat is in his back yard, it isn't like he had to drive miles to cover it AND he has to look at it EVERY DAY when he looks out the window!!!
OK, I'll get off my soap box now!
She now has a GOOD layer of green on her hull, 2" of pine needle on all horzional surfaces.
The propulsion system looks like it's been pulled from "Davey Jones Locker", cuz he got tired of looking at the rust! So that's all scrap, (I couldn't see more than a few inches into the water, but what I could see made me sick)!
The kicker was the top of the cabin, it was scary to walk on. Water must be working it's way in from the mast mount, and has taken the plywood out underneath.
The interior is trash as well, the cabinet wood all water damaged, as well as the plywood, are all beyond salavage...................... the list goes on and on and on.
She needs to be scuttled or burned to a pile of fiberglass blob, not set in the woods to suffer like that, No boat deserves that, (not even a powerboat!!)!
I left with a heavy heart, but thought, "retirement is only 8 years away. I can find a "good old girl" solid but needing care, spend my retirement $$ and time on a good project like that.
First thing is to find a enclosed area where I can work on her in comfort and go at it, (or what I've been harping for years, move to where winter is picture on the TV, not outside my window!).
Til then............................ I have my PT 1/4 I redid last winter, she can always use up grading! and the more important thing- the $$ well that funds my progets really needs to be refilled after the 5 I did last year!
Joe
I guess I can use my tools fixing my house up! It won't be as much fun, but it will keep the spouse happy!

 

[Ritdog]

Joe- forget it- it's had a good life, and now it's time for it to go to Oday heaven. I bought a 25 2 years ago for $3K for the boat, a Merc 9.9, and trailer. Needed 3 good cleanings, and some of the nastiest wood and fiberglass work I've ever done. Bottom paint down to the gelcoat. It had been hit in the transom, cracked, and all of that had to come out with a RA grinder. We probably spent at least $2000 more and 4 straight months fixing it, minimum 6 hours a day, every day. ...and this was nowhere near the shape of "yours". We love it now, but were thinking about putting our divorce lawyers on speed dial while working. Having said all that , we love it- we weekend around the islands in Maine , and it's a cozy home on the water. Rode out a 50MPH squall at anchor July 4th without a drop of water getting in. I read while the wife worked on some clothing snaps. What I might do is cut out all the hardware and sell it to other Oday owners- it's good stuff usually, and there is a demand for it, you'd be surprised. That way the good stuff gets saved, and the rotten stuff goes to the dump. The lead in the keel is worth about $300 alone. AA grinder with cutting blades, skilsaw, and a sawzall are all you need. I myself am a part-time breaker - it bothers me to cut boats up, but by the time I get them they are gone. Some people just don't take care of them. Good luck, and keep looking!

 

[joes new addiction]

A guy I tour on motorcycles with said basically the same thing.... "Take it, strip all the parts off it, we'll sell them and the trailer.
Take the hull to the back of my scrap yard, (he owns a junk yard and scrap yard next to it), cut it in 3's and we'll try shredding it to get rid of it".
It's Jerry;s if he want to do all that......
Joe
There outta be a law.......

 

[Fly_H23]

I just bought a 84' Oday 26 that was rather neglected, tied to a mooring for several years and had bats living under the main sail cover. We spent 3 days cleaning her inside and out, scrubbed all the dirt and growth off her topsides and ended up with a decent looking boat. She still needs lots of work but has solid decks, no water leaks and the bulkheads were replaced a few years ago. Keep looking, there are hundreds of cheap good old boats out there that aren't so far gone!

 

[cb32863]

If you do part it out, make a good list and let us folks here have the first crack at things. I know I would be interested in the winches if they are in good shape....

 

[anchorclanker]

My Oday 222 sat at the dock, unused, for 5 years. 5 years bobbing away tugging at its lines, through terrific rains, burning sun and endless 100F+ temps, bird crap. But it was virtually dry inside, didnt smell and had no rot. If the boat is sealed up reasonably well no water will get in.

The boat your describing, its just a shame he left it to rot like that. But maybe it was in bad shape when he got it, decks dont rot overnight. But if it gave you the bug, and your wifes onboard, keep looking. Were already looking for a bigger boat, lol. We want to go out and camp on the lake, so we want a stand up cabin. There are deals that pop up all the time, just keep an eye on CL.