trailering old oday 23

[Clayton Wright]

I am considering purchasing a 1973 Oday 23, and am concerned that it is too big for practical singlehanded trailer launching, sailing, etc. Oday seemed to alter their boats a lot; there is a substantial difference between the early '70's boats like this one and the much "bigger" O23s of the later '70's. Could someone who is familiar with the 1973 model please give me their thoughts on how handy this boat is to trail, launch, sail, retreive, etc? Do you need a gin pole to get the mast up? Does it take forever to rig and launch? I know of an O22 that's also for sale and I am trying to decide between the two. Naturally the bigger boat is preferable but if it's too much work to launch and sail I'd be better off with the little 22. Thanks for any insight!

 

[Mike Basham]

I have a 1972 23' O'Day and...

I singlehand sail it a lot, and it's great! However, getting the mast up by myself is pretty tough. A gin pole arrangement would probably help a lot; I just haven't messed with it yet-I just grab some help. It takes me about an hour and a half to get it all rigged and launched. Getting the mast down and back on the trailer is much easier, and only takes about an hour. I pull it behind my Expedition, and it trailers great! I'm in Atlanta, GA, and my 13 year old boys and I took it down to Pensacola this Spring for a week and had a great time. You have to reef the main early, because it will heel on you a bit as the wind picks up, but otherwise it sails great, even when your by yourself. I've had it about a year and a half now, and I have really enjoyed it. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have; just email me at mike.basham@bellsouth.comGood luck!

 

[Josh]

Dont know about the 23...

...But my 22 is great. It takes me about 30 minutes to get it up and ready. I leave most of the rigging on it though, so I don't know what everyone elses times are. I just lash the stays to the mast. Mike's hour and a half seems high to me.The mast is easy to step, with a little effort. If you wanted to use a gin you could, but at least on the 22 to me it seems like more time and effort then is needed. I'd say to get it into the water and be sailing on my 22, it takes me a maximum of 45 minutes. I've just started sailing too, so I'm sure that time will go down as I come up with ways to do things faster.Josh

 

[Kirk Perry]

I Love my Oday 23

Go for the 23! Mine launched smoothly. I have yet to pull it out of water, since I bought it a couple months ago. With 1200 lbs. of lead in her keel, you will need a decent powered truck to haul it with. My Explorer 6 cyl w/ 170k miles barely made it.The interior of the 23 appears larger than I expected. Much better than my MacGregor 22.