I recently bought a trailer for my O'Day 22 and pulled the boat out of the water. It sits nicely on four padded bunks near the chines, two in the bow and two in the stern. I've been told the boat MUST be supported under the keel (centerboard housing) and that the outside supports I have will damage the boat. Does anyone know for a fact if that is so? Thanks for any help.
Support keel of O'Day 22?
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Keel support
Check the archives, there has been some discussion on this subject. You should find that the answer to your question is yes, the weight of the boat on the trailer is carried through the keel. The four pads cradle the boat on the trailer. Your boat could sustain damage due to the placement of the pads against the hull with little or no internal reinforcement.
Check the archives, there has been some discussion on this subject. You should find that the answer to your question is yes, the weight of the boat on the trailer is carried through the keel. The four pads cradle the boat on the trailer. Your boat could sustain damage due to the placement of the pads against the hull with little or no internal reinforcement.
Think of it this way....
There are hundreds of pounds of lead in that keel hanging unsupported underneath the boat, and everytime that trailer goes over a bump the keel will be free to move relative to the part touching the trailer bunks. Sounds to me like a quick recipe for cracking and structural damage. I don't think any of us who have trailers that support both the keel and the hull can tell you with any accuracy what the distribution of weight is between the bunks. I think what may be more important is that the boat is not allowed to flex and distort excessively during trailering, over-stressing the laminate in the process.
There are hundreds of pounds of lead in that keel hanging unsupported underneath the boat, and everytime that trailer goes over a bump the keel will be free to move relative to the part touching the trailer bunks. Sounds to me like a quick recipe for cracking and structural damage. I don't think any of us who have trailers that support both the keel and the hull can tell you with any accuracy what the distribution of weight is between the bunks. I think what may be more important is that the boat is not allowed to flex and distort excessively during trailering, over-stressing the laminate in the process.
Keel Support
I've had my "22" for 33 years and store every winter on a trailer. The keel must rest on a solid base (Eg: 2x8 plank). The bunks really serve more to stabilize the boat. I adjust the height of the bunks just high enought so they don't concave the hull. I had the orginal Little Dude trailer until last summer. Had to have it rewelded/reinforced twice. Last summer, modified a trailer to haul my boat. That was a project, but worked out fine. Good Luck!
I've had my "22" for 33 years and store every winter on a trailer. The keel must rest on a solid base (Eg: 2x8 plank). The bunks really serve more to stabilize the boat. I adjust the height of the bunks just high enought so they don't concave the hull. I had the orginal Little Dude trailer until last summer. Had to have it rewelded/reinforced twice. Last summer, modified a trailer to haul my boat. That was a project, but worked out fine. Good Luck!
Wood works for me
I have a brand new trailer for my 1973 O23 and Warrens is right, wedging a piece of wood or two between the keel and cross supports of the trailer. While driving, those peices will fall out with the "bouncing" of the boat and trailer, so what I learned from a "professional" boat hauler was to use a heavy duty "ratchet" tie down, going under the keel to both sides of the trailer and tighten it will all your might. Will help support the keel durning transit, but block with wood as soon as you are done. Has worked great for me so far.
I have a brand new trailer for my 1973 O23 and Warrens is right, wedging a piece of wood or two between the keel and cross supports of the trailer. While driving, those peices will fall out with the "bouncing" of the boat and trailer, so what I learned from a "professional" boat hauler was to use a heavy duty "ratchet" tie down, going under the keel to both sides of the trailer and tighten it will all your might. Will help support the keel durning transit, but block with wood as soon as you are done. Has worked great for me so far.
Thanks!!
Thanks to all of you! I had considered the pressure of the bunks pushing UP into the hull, but had never considered the weight of the ballasted keel pushing DOWN with no support, and the damage that could do. I will shore it up immediately for winter storage and alter the trailer next year (when there's no boat on it), or use the ratcheting tie downs when travelling.
Thanks to all of you! I had considered the pressure of the bunks pushing UP into the hull, but had never considered the weight of the ballasted keel pushing DOWN with no support, and the damage that could do. I will shore it up immediately for winter storage and alter the trailer next year (when there's no boat on it), or use the ratcheting tie downs when travelling.
this can happen
When I bought my 22, it was sitting on its trailer with two long bunks but no support whatever under the 600# lead ballast keel. It had been set up that way from day one, some 25 years past. The hull was deformed under the aft end of the port bunk. I rebuilt the trailer so that the majority of the support is under the keel, the bunks just acting as balance support. It has worked very well that way, and the "oilcanned" area of the hull resumed its normal shape, thankfully!
When I bought my 22, it was sitting on its trailer with two long bunks but no support whatever under the 600# lead ballast keel. It had been set up that way from day one, some 25 years past. The hull was deformed under the aft end of the port bunk. I rebuilt the trailer so that the majority of the support is under the keel, the bunks just acting as balance support. It has worked very well that way, and the "oilcanned" area of the hull resumed its normal shape, thankfully!
Can happen with stands also
When I got me 23 this year, she had been sitting on stands for 7 years. There were 2 on either side plus the bow stand. The keel did have a block under it, but not enough, so there were "dents" on both sides where the stands were. Within 6 months, she is all back to shape and looking good. Moral here??? Support that keel!! Rick, I see you are on Winnipesaukee. I am next door on Winnasquam for now, but we are looking at a cottage/condo over on the big lake. Even if not, we will be trailering her over some next year for some long weekends. Would be nice to hook up sometime.
When I got me 23 this year, she had been sitting on stands for 7 years. There were 2 on either side plus the bow stand. The keel did have a block under it, but not enough, so there were "dents" on both sides where the stands were. Within 6 months, she is all back to shape and looking good. Moral here??? Support that keel!! Rick, I see you are on Winnipesaukee. I am next door on Winnasquam for now, but we are looking at a cottage/condo over on the big lake. Even if not, we will be trailering her over some next year for some long weekends. Would be nice to hook up sometime.
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