Swing-down centerboard

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Sergio

This week, I just bought an O'Day 22 that really only needs some t.l.c. and as soon as I can get a motor for it, I'll be taking her out. (I can hardly wait), But my question is in regards to the keel. Is there a swing-down centerboard like the drawings on this forum? And where is the pull wire to bring it up? And is it likely to leak up or take on water thru the opening? On the trailer, all I see is the keel and from the cabin, there is only a 3" dia. hole on the floor. Any help would be appreciated. Yours truly, Hoping-not-to-sink
 
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Don Evans

Two Things Are Possible

Either a previous owner has removed the CB, perhaps not wanting to deal with the CB ever sticking again, or a broken pennant (the rope/wire holding the CB up). You may have the CB present but of course its in the stub keel, either stuck, or ready to fall out when you launch her as the pennent is missing. Can you crawl under the stub keel and look up while its on the trailer? The hole in the cockpit leads to the CB and is where the pennant exits the cockpit for belaying. Who did you but this from? If from a previous owner clear this with them. If a dealer, and you were not told about this I would demand THEY fix it. Although one can sail without the CB on these models, it is going to compromise your ability to sail to weather. You will not point as high and you will sideslip somewhat. I believe you can push a small diameter rod down the pennant tube to try and free the CB. First determine if the CB is present at all. If the rod meets resistance immediately the CB is there. If not and the rod carries on through the stub keel you have no CB. Let us know what you find. Don
 
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Don Evans

Sorry, Meant To Add...

You will not sink. The pennent opening is well above the waterline. This tube is meant to direct a wire/rope to a clip on the CB. It is not a watertight openning. Don
 
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web

Thought

Sergio - As Don points out, you are not going to sink because of this, becareful though because you could get the board stuck on the trailer as you try to get off - if its there. I did this with the free falling CB on my Daysailer and it was truly a pain in the neck. Justin - O'day Onwers' Web
 
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Sergio

Thank you, Don & Justin for the good news, (I guess I can return this one gallon bailer). This weekend I'll brace the stern and jack it up about 1" This should be enough to let me slide a thin mirror between the bottom of the keel and the trailer's keel support. But now the 3" hole that I mentioned, is not in the cockpit, it's in the cabin. Would this hole be used for anything other than centerboard access? The boat is from a private who was not a sailor and had traded it, but has now sold it for the cash. I'll give you a status report next week. While I have you on line, may I ask one more question? What diameter standing rigging should she have and is that good that strong enough for coastal sailing? Sincerely, Happy-afloat
 
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R.W.Landau

Sergio

I had a 23 Paceship that was designed by Ray Hunt. The two boats are similar and hopefully someone here will back me up. My swing keel had the pennant come thru a hole in the bottom of the boat just aft of the swing down table. Over the hole was a tube that was glassed into the bottom of the boat. There was an aluminum tube that protected the fiberglass tube and doubled as a support for the table. The pennant exited this tube about 18" above the floor. If you have a hole in the floor and no vertical rise, something is wrong! If you have the post and just missing the pennant, you will have to put one on your self. My centerboard had a hole that had a stainless cable attached.( will be about 18" below the centerboard housing when in the water.) The cabl was connected to a nylon pennant that I do not remember the connection but it came out the aft side of the table support. I would recommend that you raise your centerboard when not sailing. Waves will rock the boat sideways and put undue wear on the pin connection not to mention the fiberglass centerboard itself. Hopefully another 22 owner will verify and maybe give more detailed info as to the connection through the table support. r.w.landau
 
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Don Evans

A Clearer Picture...

Other 22 owners should jump in here to confirm, but I believe the CB pennent is set-up similarly to my 25. The salon floor pennent hole is the one to push the rod down, to unstick the CB (if indeed stuck). The pennent itself is attached to a clip on the aft edge of the CB and passes through the salon floor exit tube to a pulley or two below the bridge deck and out through a bridge deck through-hull where it is belayed on a cleat. My guess is you will find a CB, but the pennent is missing. You can buy a replacement clip and rope/wire pennent from Rudy at D&R marine, or you can fashion one yourself using a Stainless, long, narrow D-shackle and 1/4" braided nylon line. But you have to expose the CB, by raising the boat off the trailor and lowering the CB. Push the line down through the salon floor tube and attach to new clip. Be sure your knot/shackle clears the width of the CB slot, as you lower and raise the CB. My standing rigging is 5/32", which I believe to be stock for the 22-25 Odays. I believe it is more than adequate for coastal cruising. It is almost never the wire that is the weak-link, in the standing rigging IMHO but usually turnbuckle/swaged terminals/toggles/chainplates that fail due to crevice corrosion. If your at all concerned I would seek a professional opinion, having the rigging replaced if it is at all suspect. Its really cheap insurance. Good luck. Don
 
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Bill Coxe

Possibility Number 3

You don't say what year your 22 is, but the '74 model, which I have, is a fixed keel boat drawing 1'11". I also have the hole in the cabin sole, but it isn't plugged and there is n othing approaching a centerboard trunk. I thought the hole was an aid to pumping out the bilge, if required. Good luck. I'm interested in knowing how you make out. Bill
 
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Don Evans

Good Call Cap'n Bill

I was not even thinking in terms of a fixed keel for the 22. At Mike McIntires' O'Day site he lists the 73-78 model at 1'11", as you mentoned, and the 79-83 (CB model) at 1'3" board up and 4'3" board down. Does this mean there was no CB model prior to 79? Or did they introduce a CB model in 79 and still produced the fixed keel at 1'11 "? A difference of 8" between the fixed keel and the CB model (board up) is very minimal. On the 25 the difference between the CB (board up) and the fixed keel is about 2.5 feet. Don
 
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Sergio

This one was built in 1977, as per the serial number on her transom. I've been looking as best as possible into that 3" hole with a flashlight, and it's clean and dry, so it must have been flushed out recently. It does look like it's a compartment of some kind. But looking at the keel from outside, there is no indent or evidence of a hinge pin of any kind. How would the centerboard be serviced if it could only be removed from the inside?
 
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R.W.Landau

See capt. Bill

Sergio, I don't think you have a swing keel. I think it is a shoal keel. If you look at the keel from outside the boat, there should be a bolt through the keel on the bow end of the keel. maybe half way between the bottom of the keel and the hull. If there is no bolt I think Capt. Bill has your answer. Let us know what you find. r.w.landau
 
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Sergio

Thank you Don and Justin, it looks like there never was a centeboard on this model and I don't have to worry about unsticking it (or water coming in ). Thank you Bill and R.W., she is a fixed shoal keel for sure. And Don, you are right-on about the rigging, it finally measured 5/32" once I used calipers instead of a ruler. :) Thanks again to everyone. ~Sergio
 
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