O'Day 22 trim problems

[Stu Timm]

I have a 22' Oday centerboard sloop with a 6hp Johnson on a bracket. The bracket is located to the starboard of the rudder. My boat has a noticable list to starboard and I have thus far been unable to balance her out. I have a starboard cockpit locket which contains a battery, docklines, and my anchor and 150' of line. I had a spare 5-gallon gas can that was in there but has since been moved to hepl balance the boat.Someone suggested using counterwieghts. I can get my hands on "pigs" of iron that are great for adjusting trim. My question is if anyone has done this to a 22' before, and what ramifications(if any)may occur. I always sail solo and I am about 175# in weight. I have the boat trimmed fairly light with basic provisions and gear on board. The port-a-potty is ashore but I keep 4 or 5 one-gallon jugs of fresh water forward under the v-berths. I can't stand seeing the weeds grow on my submerged 1 inch of waterline on my starboard side, and would sincerely appreciate any input you kind folks can offer.Thanks,Stu Timm

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

What you are experiencing is fairily common on boats with outboard auxillaries and offset engines. My Daysailer and C25 both list badly toward the engine. On my C25, I have trimmed it out for the most part by moving gear the other side (in that case, to starboard). The daysailer I decided was better off with a list than it was with extra weight aboard.On the C25, sailing performance is compromised. EG, the heavy side of the boat is the preferred tack by a lot. On the Daysailer, it doesn't matter, once the boat is loaded with people, crew weight is way more than the engine and the boat feels balanced.On your O22, I wouldn't add pigs. The extra weight will slow you down more than the list will. I would try to balance the boat by moving whatever you can to port, even to the point of moving batteries if necessary, though.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

[dillon1957@aol.com]

do you have a fuel tank permately iinstalled on the port side? mine did, and i took it out, and put a 5gal out board tank on the staboard side. the out board is also on the starboard side (10hp 4-stroke yamaha) and i dont have any problem with a list to either side. the difference might be that i stowe all of the items i bring aboard on the port side, and where the old fuel tank was is where i stowe the extra sales.