Thinking about buying a 23

[Wayne Steinhour]

I am thinking about buying a 23. I am wondering if there are any potential problems that I should watch out for.

The boat is a 1977 model, so I think that it has a lead keel - corrosion should not be a problem. (The owner did mention that the centerboard seems to catch on something. They loosen the line holding it up as the motor out and it always jiggles loose.)

I have heard that these boats can have issues with water seeping in around the chainplates. How would I tell if that is a problem? If it is, is it a difficult thing to fix?

Is there anything else that tends to cause problems on these boats? The boat seems to be in good condition. It is on a decent trailer, but not a roller trailer, so I think I will need to get a tongue extension to make launching easy on most ramps.

I appreciate any tips. I am planning to take a final look at the boat this weekend and make a decision.

Wayne

 

[Joe11688]

Chainplate leaks can be common on just about any sailboat. It's really hard to say what could be hanging up the centerboard. It could be marine growth or a bent pendant line shackle. The only way to find out is to take a peek at the keel. As for the trailer, you really don't know if you can float that boat off it easy unless you try it. It depends on the ramp and also the length of the trailer. I have a trailer that will take a 23' boat and it's long enough to float my boat on and off it with no problem. Check the bulkhead around the chainplates in the cabin. If they are leaking, the area will be black from the water. The O'Day 23 is a real nice boat. I personally believe that they are set up better than a stock O'Day 222 or 192. I'm sure you'll like this boat.
Joe

 

[Jfelkins]

Oday 23

I'm a new owner of an Oday 23 so I don't know how much good data I can give except that I really like the boat. i have a lot of work to do on it but all my issues are do to lack of attention from the previous owners, except.....

Over labor day weekend I did something that Trinkka warned me about. I droped anchor but forgot to raise my center board. When it was time to go I could raise my anchor. It was caught on the center board. I finally got it off but now my center board won't go down. Now I've got a a little diving to do to!

What sails come with the boat? Does it have an outboard? How is the electrical system?

 

[Wayne Steinhour]

When I take a second look at the boat this weekend, I'll pay attention to the bulkheads to look for water damage. I didn't notice anything when I first looked.

I guess the trailer depends on the ramp. As it sits, the waterline is about 52" off the ground. Seems to me it would need a pretty steep ramp to float off.

She comes with a main and a couple of jibs. I plan to take a closer look at those.

It has a 15 hp outboard, but it is a bit old. Should I plan to take the outboard off the boat when I trailer it? I worry a bit about the weight putting stress on the transom every time the trailer goes over a bump.

Is there anything in particular to check in the electrical system? (It does have shore power.)

Is the standing rigging considered to be strong on these boats? On my old Javelin, I had to replace the shrouds when I broke a strand on one of them. The new shrouds from D & R were much heavier than the originals.

Thanks for the tip about not anchoring with the centerboard down. I'll have to remember that.

Thanks for your advice, guys. I am encouraged to hear that you think that the 23 is a nice boat. I am a bit partial to O'Days, since I have been happy with my Javelin. Unless something unexpected turns up, I exepect we will soon be a 2 O'Day family.

Wayne

 

[Indysailor]

I bought my 1980 23 last October. There had been infiltration around the chainplates and some softness in the bulkheads, but not below the first bolt. We installed backing plates and rebedded, but I expect that I'll replace the bulkheads and address what I expect to be some soft core around the chainplates in the future. A guy I met who owns a 25 said it's not if you replace the bulkheads, but when. Other areas that commonly fail are the anchor locker drain and the cockpit drain. The latter especially- I know of a 78 23 at our marina that had the same problem as mine, the fiberglass around the cockpit drain through hull cracks easily, but is easily repaired with epoxy (took me an hour). I recommend you dump 5 gallons of water in the cockpit and look underneath. Same for the anchor locker.

We use a 4hp, 4 stroke for our boat, which is perfect for our inland lake. The transom and mounting bracket were originally rated for up to a 15hp motor, but I specifically wanted to carry as little weight as possible so my wife could raise and lower it. The PO had an 8hp that weighed around 80lbs and it was fine, but your concerns about bouncing over bumps with the motor attached while trailering are probably pretty well placed. It's a 31 year old boat, after all.

Generally, I have not found any specific "ODay" problems except with the rudder. Mine has some delamination and I believe that's pretty common. Luckily, it's not hard to fix- I dealt with the worst area last winter and it was not difficult. But I have not seen any hull blistering or other areas of concern with the hull. The current condition is more a matter of how well the PO maintained the boat, as I am sure you know.

We like the boat a lot. It's perfect for us and our two young kids. I would not say it's a good boat to overnight on for more than two adults; it accomodates us just fine, but my kids are 7 and 9. If you intend to overnight with more than yourself and a companion, I'd recommend a larger boat.