Re seatingwinged keel Oday 302

Dec 11, 2007
5
-O'DAY -302 westport
I'm wondering wether or not I need to re seat my keel . I see no problems with it but is it part of regular Maintanence
 
Oct 25, 2011
576
Island Packet IP31 Lake St. Louis, Montreal
I have no O'Day specific experience but re-seating a keel should not be part of "regular maintenance.

If you start having problems such as water coming in via the keel bolts, that might be a good time to look at re-seating a keel. In the meantime inspect and sail.

My opinion, worth what you paid for it ;-)

Matt
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I'm wondering wether or not I need to re seat my keel . I see no problems with it but is it part of regular Maintanence
Apparently at least a few O'day 302's and 322's left the factory with what should be considered inadequate keel stub thickness. If I personally owned one of these boats I would be dropping the keel, measuring the stub thickness, examining the layup for proper wet out, and addressing the thickness if found any thinner than 3/4"..... I have physically measured the stub of a 322 that lost its keel at 1/4". Comparable sized boats have keel stubs 3/4" thick to well over 1".......

Normally if it is not leaking, or oozing water out of the joint at haul out, you simply check torque. Where this particular model has lost keels, if it were me, I would be dropping, inspecting and addressing any issues you may find.
 
Feb 5, 2015
39
O'Day 302 Ottawa
I purchased an '87 O'Day 302 in 2013. Had it inspected by a SAMS and ABYC certified Marine Surveyor beforehand. While there was some drainage at the keel joint seam, he didn't seem concerned about it. I later came across the story (or two?) and photos of an O'day having lost its keel and this being attributed to the thickness of the keel stub and asked him about it and whether I should be concerned. He suggested I inspect and torque of the keel bolts as necessary. That was it.
I dried out the joint over winter, checked torque and resealed the joint. Other than that, I am following py26129 advice: "Inspect and sail." As for the O'Day 302? Worth every penny!!