What to Look For?

[Don]

After 5 years of sailing, I am looking to "move up" from a Mac 22 to a O'Day 25. I have located a 1980 model and will be visiting it this week-end. It hasn't been in the water for 6-7 years. A couple of questions- 1) What are the typical types of problems to look for on this boat, ie, core delamination, weak spots in design, trailer problems? 2) Is this a good boat for inland lakes with gusty winds? 3) I will keep it at my "local" lake (90 miles away) but, will trailer to another lake (300 miles away) for a week or so each year. How well does it trailer, rig,launch,and retreive? I have the equipment to pull it down the road (1 ton Dodge Dually diesel). 4) Avaliablity of parts and service? 5)Anything else of which I need to be aware. I have been following this forum for a while now and enjoy the information and banter. Thanks!

 

[Doug]

Good luck

I purchased a 1984 25' O'day two years ago and basically jumped in with both feet. It was my first keel boat and I had no idea at what I was looking at. She was an insurance boat which had been hit by lightning. I wish that was the only problem. So everything I talk about I have fixed on my boat.ChainplateThe best way to get an indication if the chainplates are leaking is to try to tighten the four screws that hold the small cover plates. If the screws just keep turning the core is mush and the bulk heads are probably mush as well. The only way to check the bulk heads is to pull the hull liner back and visually inspect them.Transom core.If you look at the stern you will notice a through hull which is located just above the bottom gudgeon. The water from the cock pit drains out the through hull and right onto this gudgeon. If this gudgeon leaks your transom core is mush. ( this was a two week project on my boat)StanchionsCheck the hull liner directly below the stanchions. If the have been leaking the liner will be water stained. also if the rub rail screws have been leaking the hull liner will be stained.Compression postcheck the base for rotSound keeltake a hard plastic hammer and tap the keel. IF you detect a hollow sound there is probably water between the fiberglass and the keel material ( mine is a shoal draft keel)BilgeIf there is no water in it your bilge your laughing!!!!!The rest of the boat is common sence visual inspection.TrailerI pull mine with a 98 GMC Safari. The boat tows great but I have a really good trailer. Electric brakes, weight transfer bars and sway bars. I tow it on major highways and am very comfortable doing so.Also a bunk trailer is better then a roller type SET UPIt takes my about two hours to set up the mast (or two beers)I can do this by myself if the wife isn't around to help. LAUNCHING A RETRIEVINGI have a 12' tongue extention so launching is not a problem. Retreieving on the other hand depends on the ramp. I put keel guides on my trailer last year. They work great on a shallow grade ramp but on a deep grade ramp they are a pain in the but. I am going to fabricate rollers that locate the boat to the trailer by way of the rub rails.All in all the O'day is a great boat to sailMine is a bit tendor as it is a shoal draft keelso I reef the main at 15 to 20 knots depending on when my first mate starts to scream.Good luck Doug