Used Javelin what to look for.

[Art]

I am going to look at a 1978 (supposedly) Javelin with trailer this weekend. See the photo from the owner. He also has a 3.3 HP Mercury 2 cycle engine. He wants $1400.00 for the boat and $250.00 for the engine. The boat spends summers in the water at a lake. and Winters on a trailer. Sails are kept inside.Are there things that I should look at when inspecting the boat and engine?What about it always being in the water? Anything I should look for?It looks like it has inspection ports on the forward floor of the cockpit. What should I expect to see in there?What are everyones opinion on the price? I would like to offer him $1300.00 for all.Does the picture look like a 1978?Does it look like the MAin Sheet runs through pulley s at the transome or from the center I have seen references not to get in the boat while it is on the trailer. I would think that it woudl be better to step the mast and rig before putting in the water????The boat will be out of the water before I see it.I have been looking for a fairly stable boat for 3-4 adults (usually 3). Parts (new and used) should be available.I would like to stay dry mostly (unless it gets too hot!). I have sailed 2 times before with very good control. I look forward to sailing in lakes and possibly NJ. Bays.I have been looking for this size boat for awhile. Not too common in the Phila. Pa. area. They always seem to be sold by the time I get to them. I was on my way to look at a AMF Sunbird w/triler and the guty called me and said that after a month of no calls, he got mine and another and the other bouight the boat, DARN.Any info. that you can provide would be great. Thanks in advance and I look forward to joining this group!!

 

[Bob McGee, O'Day 22 & Javelin]

Two things you might want to check

Art ... When I bought my Javelin, its about the same vintage as yours, there were two things that needed serious attention. First was the centerboard. Even though mine had been in fresh water all its life, the centerboard had rusted so badly there were places I could literally poke my finger through it. The centerboard is about 1/4 inch plate steel and weighs about 60 lbs. If you're lucky enough, as I am, to have access to a decent machine shop, you can fabricate your own using the old one as a template. The other problem I have is the stern which is cored to give it the strength to hold the motor. Water had intruded into the core where the gudgeons attach and has turned that interioor part of the stern to soft mush. Correcting that problem is a pretty big fix which I haven't decided upon yet.As far a price goes, I think $1400 for boat and trailer is a little on the steep side, even if the boat is absolutely pristine.Be aware that four adults in a Javelin is quite a load and will affect the sailing characteristics. Also, if you're sailing in any chop at all, you're going to get wet.Good luck. Bob McGee

 

[Art]

Look for Transom Rot center board rust

Bob, Thanks for your reply. I was up til 3am looking through the forums reagrding the Javelin!!I did see alot of notes re: Transom rot. It seemed that most had indicated that it started at the bottom of the transom and worked it's way up. I did not quite understand where the water was getting in. MAybe as you had experienced, but it seemed that it was coming in somewhere under the floor, wetting the foam and sitting against the transom etc.The only idea that I have for determining if the problem exists or not is to "knock" on the surface of the Transom with let say a handle from a screwdriver and listen for difference. Maybe there would be evidence of bubble or swell on the outer skin. Your thoughts?CB. How can aI check the CB while it is on the trailer. I don't think this guy would appreciate me flipping his boat before I buy it.I am even more concerned about these issues because the boat spends summers in the water and by the picture the cuddy hatch is not on. This I would think would allow rain to get into cuddy and then run towards the stern.Does the picture depict a 1978 vintage? One thing odd iss the two holes I think just above and to either side of the cuddy hatch.I just found another one in the paper it is listed as a 1974 O'Day 14.6 fiberblass with a 2hp Evinrude. for $675.00.Now if they would answer the phone!!Doyou know if the 1974 version had an end boom main sheet (pulleys at rear stern corners)?

 

[Rod Johnson,]

Not a 1978

I think this is more likely a 1974 or '73 Javelin, the mast appears to be "gold-anodised" a feature of the early-mid 1970's O'Days. The hull color is not standard for 1978, the '78 had white hull with orange stripes at sheer and waterline.The mainsheet is the other clue, it is the pre-1975 version, and the sheet runs from the end of the boom down to a block near the stern on one side, across to a block on the other side, back up to the boom, along the boom to a block at mid-boom, then down to the block on the CB trunk with the cam-cleat.The Jib sheets are also the earlier set-up with blocks on the tracks inside the cockpit and camcleats on the CB trunk.Looks like a good boat for you, others have noted things to look out for, I agree about those and wonder how well the bolts for that outboard bracket were sealed? My boat (a 1979 DS II) had a bracket like that and had some water that seeped into the transom core.I would say that you are about right about the $1300 for boat and motor (and trailer?). I paid $1400 for my DS II in 1996 with no motor.D&R Marine in Assonet, MA has most if not all the parts that you will ever need for this boat. Rudy Nickerson, the owner and mostly sole employee is a former Parts Dept. Manager for O'Day. He sells a stainless-steel centerboard now for the Javelin, the original galvanized CB may be a bit rusty. I've included his web-site.also check www.odayjavelin.com