My O’Day 22 Sailboat Blog

I took the boat to the launch ramp yesterday since I just received my motor. The plan is to learn how to launch and retrieve it using my home made tongue extension as well as break the motor in by motoring around the harbor. Since I am still waiting for the mast issue to be resolve and the mainsail to arrive, I launched her sans the rig.

It was fairly straight forward. The extension was made so that it connects to the hitch of the car and the tongue of the trailer. The problem with that is it adds another hinge between the car and the boat. It becomes extremely difficult to maneuver. I basically backed the trailer up as close to the ramp as possible before I attached on the extension. Hoping the slope of the ramp will bring the boat and trailer back straight enough to avoid hitting something. That went fairly well. I had to back the car almost all the way to the water edge for the boat to float off. The extension is 10 ft long and I needed every inch of it. once she floated off I just tossed some docklines for Marlene to grab on to so she can pull the boat to the docks at the ramp. That part I didnt plan so well. I wanted to be sure that I didnt hit the docks while backing the boat in so I position the trailer too far away from it. That made my docklines too short to reach the dock.

Once the boat started to float away from the trailer, I had to get it to the dock so I can secure it. Being too far to use the docklines I decided I just use the new motor I had just received. Thats when I noticed the problem with the motor. The engine does not seem to respond to the throttle. After checking and made sure all the linkages are working under the cover, It still does not seem to want to behave. I can start the engine up with one pull and get her to idle but the second I shift it into gear it will putt for a few seconds and dies after that. Any attempt to throttle up did not bring any response from the motor. That was aggravating. On top of that I was starting to float away from the trailer and towards the rocks. My only way to get back towards the dock was to repeatedly start the motor and shift into gear as the boat moves little by little each time the motor starts, shifts, propels and dies. Finally I was able to make it to the dock and secure the boat.

But now what? My plan was to motor around the harbor and break the motor in. Now it won't repond to the throttle so It is basically worthless. I sat there and tinkered a little with the motor and read the owners manual cover to cover looking for some clues of why this is happening but nothing came to me. Well, at least she floats. That is a pretty good accomplishment. The tongue extension works and I was able to launch and retrieve the boat. I just have no way of moving the boat around. I guess I will take it to my local service shop and see if they have any ideas of why this is happening. Hopefully it is not defective or damaged. I can't wait anymore just to go sailing!

Floating at the launch ramp dock with the motor idling and peeing water… 

I just received my new 6hp 4-stroke tohastu motor. I setup the engine to be ready to get broken in with the external gas tank and motor oil. I realize it is suppose to vibrate a bit as it is getting broken in so When it started and was vibrating like a 2-stroke I paid little attention to it. After 10 minutes in idle, I attempted to increase the throttle but it did not respond. I could not get the engine to rev up by throttling up with the handle. When I throttle down the engine promptly shuts off. I checked under the cover and made sure the carb, choke and gear linkages are all working correctly. When I attempted to shift into gear it will go and push the boat for a couple of seconds and dies immediately after. It has no problem starting back up but the throttle persistantly refuse to rev the engine up. I can't seem to find out what the problem is and I am pretty sure it is not normal for a brand new. out of the box motor. I guess I will need to bring this bad boy for a service already. I hope it is not defective or broken somehow. That would really suck.

After dealing with the idiots at you-know-where in Utica, New York, my motor has shipped from OnlineOutboards! I can’t believe it. I’m actually going to have a motor for the boat this week! By tracking it on FedEx, I’m looking to be receiving it on Friday. If the weather holds up, I will be launching this boat probably Saturday to test the motor and hull. It is pretty cool. I just need a solution for the mast now. I called Dwyer Mast from Connecticut and they have my mast section in stock but the shipping person is out sick. Just my luck. No telling when she will be in and apparently no one else at that company knows how to ship stuff. The other option is to order one through Rig-Rite. Just called them and they are looking into their inventory and will have to call me back. It would just be so much easier to stick the old pieces of wood back in the old mast sections and call it a day. But I am not brave enough to test my seafaring/survival skills if that thing comes falling down… The saga continues….

This week I talked to a few people about what they think I should do with the mast. The consensus is that I should not weld it. Aluminum gets soft and weak after being welded and never really regains its strength apparently. If I insist on repairing it, the only solutions seems to be to build a slug/sleeve that goes inside and rosetta spot weld or pop rivet the sections together. Since the extrusion is fairly unique, no one really has the shape I need for the sleeve. It is also recommended that I try to use similar aluminum alloy to prevent galvanic corrosion down the line. What an ordeal. Looks like I'm going to have to bite another bullet and buy a new mast. The rig will be pretty much brand new once it is said and done. At least that will be a relieve. Like Marlene said the other day, "Why don't you just buy another boat!?!?". Well, I pretty much am.

I started installing the electrical system today. I'll have some photos to share later but I am still behind in posting photos from the work I did last week. I hope I will get to it tomorrow night. Long story short, it is going well. Probably the first time ever working on an electrical project without seeing any sparks. (Yet) I officially have a cabin light. By tomorrow, I should have running lights and some 12v outlets. I've been using my flexible solar panels to charge the battery. The system is set up to run 2 batteries and West Marine has a dual purpose Group 24 battery on sale for 50 bucks. I may pick one up but I really want one of those AGM or Gel batteries. I doubt I will have the money knowing that my mast problems will cost me more before its all over. More to come before the weekend is over…

This is one of the solar panels I'm using to charge the battery. I have 2 x 5 watters and 1 x 20 watter. Luckly these were already owned so I won't have to add to my ballooning cost tally