Hi, My husband and I recently purchased a 17' Oday Daysailor (1965 I think) and it doesn't have a cover. We moor it in a cove of the Hudson River and keep a tarp on it to keep water out but would otherwise be content to leave it open. Does anyone have a recommendation for or experience with a solar powered bilge pump for a boat this size? Thanks!
Solar Bilge for 17' Oday
- Thread starter Lynne14755
- Start date
- Status
You will have to have a battery with a solar
panel to keep the battery up. Then you must determine how often the pump will run and for how long and what the current draw will be. Then you take that weekly average and buy a solar panel that will keep up with that demand. The pump capacity comes first, then the battery size and then the solar panel.
panel to keep the battery up. Then you must determine how often the pump will run and for how long and what the current draw will be. Then you take that weekly average and buy a solar panel that will keep up with that demand. The pump capacity comes first, then the battery size and then the solar panel.
Cover
I had hoped to find a cheap bilge pump solution but it doesn't appear to be the case. I have been looking for a cover online and haven't been able to find anything that is specifically made for the 17 daysailor. I was trying to avoid having one custom made. Do you know of a source? Thanks for the help.
I had hoped to find a cheap bilge pump solution but it doesn't appear to be the case. I have been looking for a cover online and haven't been able to find anything that is specifically made for the 17 daysailor. I was trying to avoid having one custom made. Do you know of a source? Thanks for the help.
I am glad all this talk of batteries, pump ratings
and solar panels has made you reconsider this idea. A heavy battery by itself on a 17' O'day would change the balance of the boat. Batteries are also filled with strong acid that would be bad for the boat, not to mention your skin if it got out somehow. The custom cover would probably cost less than the pump/battery/solar panel even if made by a canvas shop. I used to keep a 14' daysailor moored in LI Sound and I only kept a manual bilge pump, a bucket and an oar on board. Once the boat got swamped but there was enough positive flotation so it did not sink and the bucket helped to dry things out with a lot of work. I am pretty sure the O'Day 17' has similar positive flotation qualities. You could also try to make a cover out of a tarp from HDepot but I doubt that it would last as long as one made of canvas. I keep my 27' boat in Nyack on Hudson. Where on the Hudson is your anchoring cove?
and solar panels has made you reconsider this idea. A heavy battery by itself on a 17' O'day would change the balance of the boat. Batteries are also filled with strong acid that would be bad for the boat, not to mention your skin if it got out somehow. The custom cover would probably cost less than the pump/battery/solar panel even if made by a canvas shop. I used to keep a 14' daysailor moored in LI Sound and I only kept a manual bilge pump, a bucket and an oar on board. Once the boat got swamped but there was enough positive flotation so it did not sink and the bucket helped to dry things out with a lot of work. I am pretty sure the O'Day 17' has similar positive flotation qualities. You could also try to make a cover out of a tarp from HDepot but I doubt that it would last as long as one made of canvas. I keep my 27' boat in Nyack on Hudson. Where on the Hudson is your anchoring cove?
Sailors' Tailor
The Sailors' Tailor in Ohio makes mooring and trailering covers specifically for the O'day Daysailer. See the link below.
The Sailors' Tailor in Ohio makes mooring and trailering covers specifically for the O'day Daysailer. See the link below.
- Status