I found a good deal on a 17' O'Day. A friend of mine and I have a little 13' English made Marlin sailboat. It's a little small for us and demands our full attention while sailing. We want a boat, which is a little more roomy and maybe a little less responsive. We have small children and want to use the 17 footer as a family boat on the Hudson River. The Hudson regularly has 10 to 25 mile an hour winds with one to two foot swells. If anyone could tell me a little about how the boat handles, how touchy it is and/or any other useful information it will be much appreciated.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
J
Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Is it a daysailer?
Robert - Is your boat a Daysailer? If so, the conditions you describe are within its limits, but pushing it. I would spend some time in a more protected area before getting out to the river. Check out http://www.daysailer.org for lots of testimonials. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Robert - Is your boat a Daysailer? If so, the conditions you describe are within its limits, but pushing it. I would spend some time in a more protected area before getting out to the river. Check out http://www.daysailer.org for lots of testimonials. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
R
Robert Smart
Not the same?
Thanks Justin, I thought that the 17 footer was a daysailer. What would be the difference if they are not? Is there a signicant difference handling wise? Bob Smart
Thanks Justin, I thought that the 17 footer was a daysailer. What would be the difference if they are not? Is there a signicant difference handling wise? Bob Smart
K
Ken Cobb
Good Reef!
I used to own a Daysailer I, and it was a handful above 15 knots. Unfortunately it will not sail worth a darn on the mainsail alone, so the only answer is to reef your mainsail and go to a reduced jib. Even then I think 25 knots of wind is probably the outer limit for this boat. Another problem with pushing it, aside from the fact that you will have kids on board, is that a Daysailer cannot be self-rescued after a capsize unless it has been fitted with water tight doors on the cuddy. Otherwise the cuddy will fill and the boat will turtle. It is one of the best family boats out there, with room for six in the cockpit, but it is still a centerboard boat without ballast, and has to be sailed with respect for the elements.
I used to own a Daysailer I, and it was a handful above 15 knots. Unfortunately it will not sail worth a darn on the mainsail alone, so the only answer is to reef your mainsail and go to a reduced jib. Even then I think 25 knots of wind is probably the outer limit for this boat. Another problem with pushing it, aside from the fact that you will have kids on board, is that a Daysailer cannot be self-rescued after a capsize unless it has been fitted with water tight doors on the cuddy. Otherwise the cuddy will fill and the boat will turtle. It is one of the best family boats out there, with room for six in the cockpit, but it is still a centerboard boat without ballast, and has to be sailed with respect for the elements.
R
R. Glad
New owner
I too am a new Daysailer owner. We recently moved up to the boat from an even smaller sailboat. It's a great boat for the family on a budget. It seats five comfortably and six on a calm day. I find the boat handles well with only the main. In higher winds I find the jib just too much sail. The boat is very stable in winds up to 20 but after that you really need to be alert. One good puff and you are scrambling to the windward side. We have yet to be knocked down but... It is really a great boat but know its limitations. Firefly and crew
I too am a new Daysailer owner. We recently moved up to the boat from an even smaller sailboat. It's a great boat for the family on a budget. It seats five comfortably and six on a calm day. I find the boat handles well with only the main. In higher winds I find the jib just too much sail. The boat is very stable in winds up to 20 but after that you really need to be alert. One good puff and you are scrambling to the windward side. We have yet to be knocked down but... It is really a great boat but know its limitations. Firefly and crew
B
Brigitte Sagittarius
too much wind
Yes it is a daysailer (it does not have a head), I sailed it with 2 little kids and always felt quite safe, but I did not take them out under your apparently normal windy condition. My kids are grown and gone, and indeed I turtled it in Long Island Sound, it was not fun and the rescue was very expensive! 10 to 15 knots is fun, and I find the daysailer delightlfully responsive, indeed it does NOT sail well without the jib!
Yes it is a daysailer (it does not have a head), I sailed it with 2 little kids and always felt quite safe, but I did not take them out under your apparently normal windy condition. My kids are grown and gone, and indeed I turtled it in Long Island Sound, it was not fun and the rescue was very expensive! 10 to 15 knots is fun, and I find the daysailer delightlfully responsive, indeed it does NOT sail well without the jib!
P
P Corbett
daysailor wind
Over 20 kts is too much wind for that boat unless racing an experienced crew. That river can be dangerous. One good thing, it will usually point up before capsizing, once the rudder is out of the water. In heavy wind, use main alone with or w/o reefing, but jib is overpowering in 20 kts. Calm wind, the jib gives better handling, easier tacking, etc. Good safe boat, and very stable below 15 kts. Good luck.
Over 20 kts is too much wind for that boat unless racing an experienced crew. That river can be dangerous. One good thing, it will usually point up before capsizing, once the rudder is out of the water. In heavy wind, use main alone with or w/o reefing, but jib is overpowering in 20 kts. Calm wind, the jib gives better handling, easier tacking, etc. Good safe boat, and very stable below 15 kts. Good luck.
K
Ken Cobb
Using only the main
A daysailer is very hard to sail to windward with just the main. It is also very come about with just the main hoisted. You have to build up a lot of speed at a point about 60 degrees off the wind, and then you have to come about all the way to a point 60 degrees off the wind in the other direction, or else you will wind up in irons. For wind control in a daysailer, it is best to have a reefable mainsail and a storm jib. I think both would be necessary to handle a 20-knot wind.
A daysailer is very hard to sail to windward with just the main. It is also very come about with just the main hoisted. You have to build up a lot of speed at a point about 60 degrees off the wind, and then you have to come about all the way to a point 60 degrees off the wind in the other direction, or else you will wind up in irons. For wind control in a daysailer, it is best to have a reefable mainsail and a storm jib. I think both would be necessary to handle a 20-knot wind.
M
MS Wauben
Day sailer on Hudson
I recently bought a 17' Daysailer and have been sailing out of Peekskill, last weekend in fact, it handled beautifully, but as others have suggested I would not recommend going out with small children in wind over 15-20 mph.
I recently bought a 17' Daysailer and have been sailing out of Peekskill, last weekend in fact, it handled beautifully, but as others have suggested I would not recommend going out with small children in wind over 15-20 mph.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.