Recent Purchase

[Don-MT]

I recently purchased a 1980 O'Day 23. It has not been sailed since 1991 and has been kept on a trailer indoors for those years. I have a couple of questions. Since it had been in storage for so long, someone evidently needed the main sheet and boom vang more than the previous owner. I understand that originaly the mainsheet was connected to the backstay. Since I need to purchase a main sheet, should I consider a traveler? If so, does anyone have an idea of a setup? Does this boat benefit from adding a traveler? Also, upon inspection I noticed in the area of the bilge where the centerboard line goes through the hull there is a crack in what appears to the "puddle" of resin around the tube where it exits the inside of the hull. The exterior appears to be sound. Is this "normal?" If not, what is the fix? I have "lurk" around this site for some time while trying to decide on a "new" boat. I have been impressed by the enthusiasm and helpfulness by the forum members. It made my decision easier. Thanks!

 

[Kevin]

never wished for a traveler

Don, I have a 1979 Oday 23 and the mainsheet attaches to the backstay. I really enjoy the wide open cockpit that this arrangement provides. My boat has very little weather helm. My only complaint, is that I wish it pointed a little better. Since I am most interesed in cruising, I am willing to sacrifice a small amount of performance for a clutter free cockpit.

 

[HukilauMike]

Have given it a lot of thought myself

I have a 79 Oday 23, and have thought quite a bit about adding a traveler. I agree with Kevin about the lack of weather helm on the boat, but still thought a traveler would be a good addition, especially because the boat is tender and I thought it would be a good sail control to use to spill some wind from the main and still keep the sail shape. Some recent conversations have made me change my mind (at least for the moment).I was at the Miami Boat Show last month and discussed how to add a traveler to the boat with reps from Schaffer, Harken and Ronstan. They all had the same reaction: certainly not easy and probably not necessary. Not easy because there is no obvious place to put one without modifying the entire sheeting arrangement. End boom sheeting is a good thing, and the only way to keep that is to mount the traveler on top of the stern rail. This would require fabrication of custom-made mounting brackets and a maybe a custom-curved mounting slide for the traveler car. If you are willing to change to mid-boom sheeting, you could also custom fabricate a mounting platform for the cabin top, but it would still likely interfere with cabin access, as well as look butt ugly. The only other option is to mount the traveler in the cockpit. I don't think I want that knee-banging or companionway obstructing option.All three manufacturers said that on a boat that small that I don't seriously race, a well-set up boom vang should provide enough twist control to dump wind from the main in breezy conditions. Since I didn't have a boom vang, I wandered over to the Garhauer booth (he was the only one actually selling equipment; the rest were just showing stuff) and bought a 4:1 boom vang with becket (rove with line) for $65!I'll be installing it this spring. Bottom line: installing a traveler on the boat ain't gonna be cheap or easy.

 

[Don-MT]

Thanks

Thanks for your input. I think I'll just replace the mainsheet and boom vang and worry about a traveler later. Any thoughts on the crack around the C/B tube?

 

[John]

vang me anyway

so tell me Don, where are you going to be sailing in montana? Flathead, Canyon ferry,Fort Peck? When I left Montana, Fort Peck was running out of water! I had an O'day 22 And now have a 23; both have the mainsheet on the backstay. Does the backstay still have the triangular plate a foot or so above the transom? I found that when the topping lift is set right, close hauled on the main will add tension to the forestay by tensioning the backstay, and flatten the jib some more. A pity I had to move to Connecticut to learn to sail, lack of wind is seldom a problem in the big sky state!

 

[Don-MT]

Hey, John

Nice to hear from you. I mainly sail Canyon Ferry, but try to get to Flathead for the last sail of the year. After six years of drought and BLM-Army Corps policies, most of the "big water" in Montana is very low. At Clark Canyon Res. you can see the remains of the town they moved to make the lake. Our winter snow pack is around 50% of normal. Fortunately, at my slip, I should still have around 30' of water under the keel, but we have to be careful of "uncharted" shallows. When I looked at the 23 main sheet setup I was wondering if the main sheet would help tension the jib. Glad to know it will. I'm looking forward to sliding the sloop in the slip soon.Best of luck to you and hope you get "home" to Montana soon.