Hi, I'm looking into buying a 1982 23' oday and would like to know what sort of job it is to step the mast and rig. I'm new to sailing and would like to trailer it . Can any one share some of there experience and views on the amount of time to rig the boat from time of launching it in the water. Also can one person step the mast? Thanks Al,
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Ben Allen - O'Day 26
Single Handing
Hi Al, It is not at all difficult to rig, launch, and sail a 23 foot boat single handed, in some areas you have to be careful and take your time. I have had a Catalina 25 and now sail an O'Day 26, both boats have been rigged, launched, and sailed single handed. To step the mast, make you some GIN poles out of 1" electrical conduit, with enough length to go from the toe rail even with the mast base to the bow stem. With the two poles attached and raised, it will look like an "A" Frame. Attach the forestay to the point that is at the top of the A, and also attach a heavy duty line to it. Run the line through a block at the stem fitting, and back to a winch in the cockpit. Out of 2x4's, build a brace that will fit in the rear of the cockpit that will raise the mast up to about 6". If you put a roller at the top of this brace, it will allow you to roll the mast back when you get ready to step it. Make sure that your back stay and side stays are attached and tensioned. At this point, just winch the mast up into position, bring the jib halyard forward and attach to the bow cleat, disconnect the forestay from the A frame, and attach it to the stem fitting. When you go to launch, leave the bow eye attached to the winch cable until you have backed into the water enough. Attach a long dock line to it and disconnect the winch cable. Push the boat off the trailer, and keep a hold on the dock line. When the boat has cleared the trailer, pull it to the dock, tree, or something handy. Pull your trailer out of the water and park it. Final step: Go Sailing. Ben Allen Montgomery, AL O'Day 26
Hi Al, It is not at all difficult to rig, launch, and sail a 23 foot boat single handed, in some areas you have to be careful and take your time. I have had a Catalina 25 and now sail an O'Day 26, both boats have been rigged, launched, and sailed single handed. To step the mast, make you some GIN poles out of 1" electrical conduit, with enough length to go from the toe rail even with the mast base to the bow stem. With the two poles attached and raised, it will look like an "A" Frame. Attach the forestay to the point that is at the top of the A, and also attach a heavy duty line to it. Run the line through a block at the stem fitting, and back to a winch in the cockpit. Out of 2x4's, build a brace that will fit in the rear of the cockpit that will raise the mast up to about 6". If you put a roller at the top of this brace, it will allow you to roll the mast back when you get ready to step it. Make sure that your back stay and side stays are attached and tensioned. At this point, just winch the mast up into position, bring the jib halyard forward and attach to the bow cleat, disconnect the forestay from the A frame, and attach it to the stem fitting. When you go to launch, leave the bow eye attached to the winch cable until you have backed into the water enough. Attach a long dock line to it and disconnect the winch cable. Push the boat off the trailer, and keep a hold on the dock line. When the boat has cleared the trailer, pull it to the dock, tree, or something handy. Pull your trailer out of the water and park it. Final step: Go Sailing. Ben Allen Montgomery, AL O'Day 26
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Justin - O'day Owner's Web
Ben's got it down pat, but watch for twist
Ben's system seems good to me. I've seen it in action on a C25 and its great. Do be carefull, however, to tension all the lines enough to prevent the mast from swinging horizontally. Thats a _big_ lever and will do a number on your mast step. Justin - O'day Owner's Web
Ben's system seems good to me. I've seen it in action on a C25 and its great. Do be carefull, however, to tension all the lines enough to prevent the mast from swinging horizontally. Thats a _big_ lever and will do a number on your mast step. Justin - O'day Owner's Web
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Don
You Already have a GIN POLE
Al, using your boom as the gin pole is very easy. If you want a diagram of this join the Yahoo O'Day club and go to the pix section. There, one fellow has posted a diagram of this and has some good pix. I use this method to lift the mast on my OD25, but still have a second pair of hands standing by to assist. I assume you have a hinged mast step. If the stays are inline with the mast, ie not ahead or behind the mast, then this method works well. Ben's description is valid and I might add to Justin's comment about the boom/ginple/mast staying inline as it is raised or lowered. Don
Al, using your boom as the gin pole is very easy. If you want a diagram of this join the Yahoo O'Day club and go to the pix section. There, one fellow has posted a diagram of this and has some good pix. I use this method to lift the mast on my OD25, but still have a second pair of hands standing by to assist. I assume you have a hinged mast step. If the stays are inline with the mast, ie not ahead or behind the mast, then this method works well. Ben's description is valid and I might add to Justin's comment about the boom/ginple/mast staying inline as it is raised or lowered. Don
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jon chamberlain
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mattmansh@yahoo.com
oday 23 mast step
yes you can step single handed. owned a 23 for 5 years took it everywhere by myself (midwest to florida). do your self a favor and use a 4 wheel drive not for the extra wheels but for the low range on the transmission. it makes a BIG difference in ease of launching. now to the mast . fisrt off the boat i bought was kept well by a gentleman who was fairly handy. he had added 3 inch rollers to the bow and stern pulpits to allow the mast to roll forward over the bow. here are the steps i used and the mast is sitting on both rollers. 1. shorten the main halyard about 3 feet and secure at the mast cleet. 2. attach the mainsheet to the pennent and the main halyard(the backstay turnbuckle should be extended somewhat)extend the sheet to the cabin top . 3 roll the mast forward over the bow and put in the tabernacle pin (i shouldnt have to say the front one but i'll take no chances!) 4. make sure all turnbuckles are free to not bind up ( i taped mine into place)and that the shrouds are clear. 5. from the bow lift the mast to your shoulder, face aft and walk the mast up (should take about 3 steps) 6. reach down and grab the mainsheet that you laid on the deck , tighten and cleat, and slide the aft pin into place in the tabernacle . 7. attach backstay to the mainsheet/backstay pennent and adust the shroud tension.( i marked mine with tape). you are done reverse the steps to take it down ( the friction in the miansheet helps slow the decent a bit, and make sure it will run free! i found the quicker the mast comes down the better and i would kind of just catcht it on my shoulder. other questions on the boat, feel free to email mattmansh@yahoo.com happy sailing!!
yes you can step single handed. owned a 23 for 5 years took it everywhere by myself (midwest to florida). do your self a favor and use a 4 wheel drive not for the extra wheels but for the low range on the transmission. it makes a BIG difference in ease of launching. now to the mast . fisrt off the boat i bought was kept well by a gentleman who was fairly handy. he had added 3 inch rollers to the bow and stern pulpits to allow the mast to roll forward over the bow. here are the steps i used and the mast is sitting on both rollers. 1. shorten the main halyard about 3 feet and secure at the mast cleet. 2. attach the mainsheet to the pennent and the main halyard(the backstay turnbuckle should be extended somewhat)extend the sheet to the cabin top . 3 roll the mast forward over the bow and put in the tabernacle pin (i shouldnt have to say the front one but i'll take no chances!) 4. make sure all turnbuckles are free to not bind up ( i taped mine into place)and that the shrouds are clear. 5. from the bow lift the mast to your shoulder, face aft and walk the mast up (should take about 3 steps) 6. reach down and grab the mainsheet that you laid on the deck , tighten and cleat, and slide the aft pin into place in the tabernacle . 7. attach backstay to the mainsheet/backstay pennent and adust the shroud tension.( i marked mine with tape). you are done reverse the steps to take it down ( the friction in the miansheet helps slow the decent a bit, and make sure it will run free! i found the quicker the mast comes down the better and i would kind of just catcht it on my shoulder. other questions on the boat, feel free to email mattmansh@yahoo.com happy sailing!!
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Chris
Stepping the 23's mast
In my experience, stepping the 23's mast can be done with 3 people, but best with 4. 1 person at the bow. 1 in the middle of the boat, keeping the mast straight as it goes up. 1 at the stern getting it started up. I prefer 2 people at the stern, because that mast can get heavy and awkward.
In my experience, stepping the 23's mast can be done with 3 people, but best with 4. 1 person at the bow. 1 in the middle of the boat, keeping the mast straight as it goes up. 1 at the stern getting it started up. I prefer 2 people at the stern, because that mast can get heavy and awkward.
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