Hi, Just bought a '72 O'Day 22. While cleaning it out and assessing what it needs to get it in the water this summer, I've noticed that a previous owner (hard to believe it came from the factory this way) filled many of the storage spaces with styrofoam pieces. It seems haphazard. Does anyone with more knowledge of older O'Days know why anyone would do this? I want to remove it but can't figure out if it is really necessary or whether the previous owner was paranoid about sinking. Thanks in advance. Deebee
Styrofoam in '73 O'Day 22
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Styrofoam
I think your right about the previous owner being paranoid about the boat sinking. My 1986 O'Day 222 came through with no flotation and I value every inch of space that I can get out of her for my gear. A 22 foot boat is small enough without making it even smaller by filling it with foam. It's just plain ludicrous. I'd go ahead and remove it and regain all that precious space back. One of the first things that I did when I bought my boat was to buy some plastic storage containers with lids to store my can goods and food supplies under the quarter birth compartments in the main cabin. I bought a large deeper on for my pots and pans in my V birth compartment. Then I still needed room for rain gear and other necessities for stowage. These boats are supposed to sleep four, but you couldn't get four people and all their gear into a 22 foot boat and be able to move around. It's crowded with only two people and gear. Space on these boats is very valuable, believe me. Joe
I think your right about the previous owner being paranoid about the boat sinking. My 1986 O'Day 222 came through with no flotation and I value every inch of space that I can get out of her for my gear. A 22 foot boat is small enough without making it even smaller by filling it with foam. It's just plain ludicrous. I'd go ahead and remove it and regain all that precious space back. One of the first things that I did when I bought my boat was to buy some plastic storage containers with lids to store my can goods and food supplies under the quarter birth compartments in the main cabin. I bought a large deeper on for my pots and pans in my V birth compartment. Then I still needed room for rain gear and other necessities for stowage. These boats are supposed to sleep four, but you couldn't get four people and all their gear into a 22 foot boat and be able to move around. It's crowded with only two people and gear. Space on these boats is very valuable, believe me. Joe
Hi Deebee, keep the foam, it's there for a reason.
The foam was to keep it floating if it sinks and came from the factory that way. Over time some of it probably got broken and that it why it looks the way it does. My 75 Oday 22 has it in the stern under the cockpit between the seats and in the bow under the V-berth. Hope that helps. The boat was designed as a self righting boat, however if it was to sink it was designed as a floater too. Jack
The foam was to keep it floating if it sinks and came from the factory that way. Over time some of it probably got broken and that it why it looks the way it does. My 75 Oday 22 has it in the stern under the cockpit between the seats and in the bow under the V-berth. Hope that helps. The boat was designed as a self righting boat, however if it was to sink it was designed as a floater too. Jack
Keep the styrofoam
Hey Deebee, Our 72 O'Day has styrofoam throughout the hull and it's there for one and only one reason, to keep the boat afloat just in case the boat takes on water as jackhartjr has stated. There are standards set that all boat companies have to abide by and part of the standards are to ensure that if a boat takes on water it will not sink. So the styrofoam is there as a flotation device for your boat in case there's a situation (and there are many that could happen!) that it takes on enough water where the boat is in jepordy of sinking. Most boats I've been able to look at never seem to have the greatest ways of implementing self flotation in case they spring a leak and the O'day 22 does it fair at best. Personally I feel the styrofoam takes up a lot of room and I'd love to toss it out, but I like the fact that there's something to fall back on in case we spring a leak out in the middle of nowhere. My opinion, for what it's worth, is to keep the sytrofoam in place and resecure it, just for piece of mind.
Hey Deebee, Our 72 O'Day has styrofoam throughout the hull and it's there for one and only one reason, to keep the boat afloat just in case the boat takes on water as jackhartjr has stated. There are standards set that all boat companies have to abide by and part of the standards are to ensure that if a boat takes on water it will not sink. So the styrofoam is there as a flotation device for your boat in case there's a situation (and there are many that could happen!) that it takes on enough water where the boat is in jepordy of sinking. Most boats I've been able to look at never seem to have the greatest ways of implementing self flotation in case they spring a leak and the O'day 22 does it fair at best. Personally I feel the styrofoam takes up a lot of room and I'd love to toss it out, but I like the fact that there's something to fall back on in case we spring a leak out in the middle of nowhere. My opinion, for what it's worth, is to keep the sytrofoam in place and resecure it, just for piece of mind.
Flotation
Back in the mid 1980s I saw a boat in the North American Small Boat Show in Newport RI that I just had to have. It was the Sanibel 17. The boat was sitting in the water and anyone could come aboard her and ask the dealer any questions. To make a long story short; I bought the boat and took it for granted that the hull was solid. In fact, I told the dealer that I didn't want the flat bunk trailer that came with this boat and had made up my mind that a roller trailer would be easier to load and unload the boat. I didn't find out until the boat was delivered that this boat had a very flexible hull, and when it was lowered on the trailer, the hull flexed around each of the rollers. You could take your thumb and press the side of the hull and it was almost like jelly. Had I known the type of hull that this boat had, I would never have bought this it, and what I'm getting at is; if ever a boat needed flotation, it would be this boat. But, at the time I had no idea about the hull and the dealer of course, didn't go out of his way to inform me, even though I told him about the trailer that I wanted to put under her. He wanted to sell these boats, and that's all he cared about. I was always very leery about what would happen if I ever hit something while sailing her, and the hull should open up. Would it sink? Maybe, but I didn't want to find out. Anyway, I no longer have that boat, thank the good Lord for small favors, and I have a boat now that has a strong thick hull that will take a roller trailer. I've sailed her all over Buzzard's Bay, including Cuttyhunk and Martha's Vineyard, as well as all of Mount Hope Bay, Narragansett Bay and Block Island. I don't worry about this boat's capabilities because I know that she'll sail anywhere that her big sisters go, but in the final analysis, it's up to the owner to make the call about whether a boat is safe and this is an individual decision that the owner has to make based on information from other owners of the same type of boat, and a basic understanding of hull structure. As far as my boat is concerned, I always try to keep a sharp look out for obstacles that may do damage to my hull, but I do know that her hull is strong and won't puncture as easily as that other boat that I mentioned previously. Also, in the event that I got caught in rough seas, I've always battened down all hatches and this boat becomes like a cork in the water. If sea water doesn't get into her cabin and flood her, she won't sink. So these are my views, but all boat owners need to go with what is comfortable for them when it comes to boat safety.
Back in the mid 1980s I saw a boat in the North American Small Boat Show in Newport RI that I just had to have. It was the Sanibel 17. The boat was sitting in the water and anyone could come aboard her and ask the dealer any questions. To make a long story short; I bought the boat and took it for granted that the hull was solid. In fact, I told the dealer that I didn't want the flat bunk trailer that came with this boat and had made up my mind that a roller trailer would be easier to load and unload the boat. I didn't find out until the boat was delivered that this boat had a very flexible hull, and when it was lowered on the trailer, the hull flexed around each of the rollers. You could take your thumb and press the side of the hull and it was almost like jelly. Had I known the type of hull that this boat had, I would never have bought this it, and what I'm getting at is; if ever a boat needed flotation, it would be this boat. But, at the time I had no idea about the hull and the dealer of course, didn't go out of his way to inform me, even though I told him about the trailer that I wanted to put under her. He wanted to sell these boats, and that's all he cared about. I was always very leery about what would happen if I ever hit something while sailing her, and the hull should open up. Would it sink? Maybe, but I didn't want to find out. Anyway, I no longer have that boat, thank the good Lord for small favors, and I have a boat now that has a strong thick hull that will take a roller trailer. I've sailed her all over Buzzard's Bay, including Cuttyhunk and Martha's Vineyard, as well as all of Mount Hope Bay, Narragansett Bay and Block Island. I don't worry about this boat's capabilities because I know that she'll sail anywhere that her big sisters go, but in the final analysis, it's up to the owner to make the call about whether a boat is safe and this is an individual decision that the owner has to make based on information from other owners of the same type of boat, and a basic understanding of hull structure. As far as my boat is concerned, I always try to keep a sharp look out for obstacles that may do damage to my hull, but I do know that her hull is strong and won't puncture as easily as that other boat that I mentioned previously. Also, in the event that I got caught in rough seas, I've always battened down all hatches and this boat becomes like a cork in the water. If sea water doesn't get into her cabin and flood her, she won't sink. So these are my views, but all boat owners need to go with what is comfortable for them when it comes to boat safety.
More Styrofoam Thoughts
Now that I've decided that the styrofoam stays, I've been searching for the appropriate form it should take. I found billets manufactured by Dow Chemical. They seem pricey, but also like they would be easy to work with. Does anyone have any experience using this type of foam? I have enjoyed and appreciated reading everyone's thoughts on the matter. Thanks in advance. Deebee
Now that I've decided that the styrofoam stays, I've been searching for the appropriate form it should take. I found billets manufactured by Dow Chemical. They seem pricey, but also like they would be easy to work with. Does anyone have any experience using this type of foam? I have enjoyed and appreciated reading everyone's thoughts on the matter. Thanks in advance. Deebee
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