O'day craftsmanship

lbdavis · #1 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

Hi,

Can anyone speak to the quality of construction of O'day's in the early 80's (or lack thereof?)

I'm interested in looking at them, but they are all a far drive for me? Are these well made production boats? Are these horribly-made production boats? Worthy of coastal cruising or worthy of being a planter in a front yard?

Looking to save a long road trip for nothing,
LB

Joel73 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

Sorry for the short reply but i'm in a hurry.
I'm a big fan of O'Day boats and in my opinion they are quality built production boats. We owned a 1975 O'Day 22 for 20 years and loved it... solid hull and deck to this day. I wouldn't take it accross the Atlantic but for a coastal cruiser you could do much worse than to pick an O'Day.

Check out this site: http://www.iheartodays.com/

Jotun · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

I agree. They are good boats for the money. Just make sure the boat you are looking at doesn't suffer from any of the old-boat maladies that occur with every variety.

lbdavis · #4 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

Thanks for the quick response! Besides de-laminating decks, rotten bulkheads, and the like, are there any problem spots that O'days seem to consistently have?

Jeff_H · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

My sense is that the quality of the late 1970's and early 1980's Odays had gone down dramatically especially as compared to other builders of that era. This was a time when boat builders were improving on internal framing and methods of connecting the structural components of the pan to the hull and so forth. Oday did not improve along with everyone else. While Oday fans often say that the Reagan era 'luxury tax' killed Oday, the reality was that very few Odays would have actually been subject to the tax and that it was their dated designs and poor engineering and workmanship that killed them.

Respectfully,
Jeff

deniseO30 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

were over built (imo) because most builders back then were still more comfortable with wooden boat design. So not really trusting fiberglass they just used more of the stuff!

I've a O30 (1982) my son is 6'2" and he can stand in the main salon! Most of it's problems are from bad owners. Electrical is a big problem, I think encapsulated keels have also fallen out of favor. Many Odays had keel stepped masts. Small cockpits (for smaller families?) Some of the last odays in the late 80s were actually built by pearson. D&R Marine is a supplier for our old boats, and owned by the former parts manager of Oday.

The arguement comparing new to old just doesn't make sense to me. Now, if you compare the Pearsons, Odays, Erricsons, of the same era... I think you will find they are all "good old boats" Only people that know the feeling of having something "old is new again" can understand old boats, along with old cars, houses, even airplanes. (I've a 21 yr old restored car, restored 1934 bady grand piano, 1955 old town canoe) Of course not being able to afford new a good reason to love the old!

In the end, there are only so many hull designs that work! It's kinda like building a new house on it's old foundation! It's been said that there is no such thing as a "new boat". Swing keels, wing keels, bulb keels, wide beam, narrow beam, etc.. all stuff that's been around a very long time. Materials have improved vastly however, creating lighter stronger in just about everything, not just boats.

I think that some of the newer (or surviving) boat builders are seeking out some of the "old" designs or at least to ID with a name from back then. Example: Catalina now owns Morgan. You may also be interested to know you can buy new Odays that are being built in Japan from the original molds.

good luck on your choice what ever it may be!

Denise

BarryL · #7 (**permalink**) 08-25-2007

Hi,

I have an O'day 35, so I am prejudiced, but I think that O'day boats are just fine.

My first boat was a Catalina 22, my second a Newport 28, the O'day is my third.

I can't make too many direct comparisons, but I feel that O'day boats are comparable to other production type cruisers of that era - boats like Catalina, S2, C&C, Beneteau, etc. Not as nice as Tartan and Sabre, but nicer than Irwin, Hunter, etc.

Compared to a similar vintage Catalina, the O'day will have a nicer interior (padded headliner, teak and holly sole, etc.

Some other things, the O'day boats from the late 70's early 80's are different than the boats from the late 80's. The O'day 28, 30, 34 were standard type boats. In the late 80's, the 302 replaced the 30 and the 322 came out. Those boats are a lot different than the early boats.

Good luck,
Barry

PalmettoSailor · #8 (**permalink**) 08-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryL

Hi,

I have an O'day 35, so I am prejudiced, but I think that O'day boats are just fine.

My first boat was a Catalina 22, my second a Newport 28, the O'day is my third.

I can't make too many direct comparisons, but I feel that O'day boats are comparable to other production type cruisers of that era - boats like Catalina, S2, C&C, Beneteau, etc. Not as nice as Tartan and Sabre, but nicer than Irwin, Hunter, etc.

Compared to a similar vintage Catalina, the O'day will have a nicer interior (padded headliner, teak and holly sole, etc.

Some other things, the O'day boats from the late 70's early 80's are different than the boats from the late 80's. The O'day 28, 30, 34 were standard type boats. In the late 80's, the 302 replaced the 30 and the 322 came out. Those boats are a lot different than the early boats.

Good luck,
Barry

I guess I'll chime in since we have one of O'day's later designs, a 322. While I'm not a surveyor, I did look at a lot of 70's to 80's vintage production boats in our search and really feel that an O'day was a good production boat in its day. Today, I'd say its all dependent on the TLC a boat has had over its life time. O'days are subject to all the same issues as other similar boats. Gelcoat cracking, water intrusion in the core via thru deck fittings, aging components, etc.

I'd disagree with the comment that O'day's designs were not keeping up with the times. The 2 cabin layout of the 322 is hard to beat even on 36 and 38 foot designs of the time when it was built, and rivals todays designs in the same size. The "modern" exterior with the black plexiglass port lights is my least favorite feature, but lots of newer boats have similar exterior styling. A 322 is defintely not a bluewater cruiser, but it is a great family sailboat with comfortable accomodations which is how most folks buying a boat in this price range would use it. While we intend to sell our boat and move up someday, I have to say we are pretty happy with the boat for now.

deniseO30 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-25-2007

One of the guys in my yacht club bought a 322 last yr and he loves it. I love it too! and it's not mine to love LOL it has lots of light inside. the appointments are close to if not equal to some "new" boats I see at shows. He has the wing keel. and it's only like 3/5 ft draft. Huge mainsail too!

wlcoxe · #10 (**permalink**) 08-25-2007

LB,
As someone on my 3rd O'Day (22,28 and now 40), it appears you are getting comments from those of us who love them. As Denise said, boats of an era are somewhat similar as far as how they were made. The hull of my 1979 28 was solid, compared to the cored hull of my 1989 40. Both boats have been through severe COASTAL weather, and survived well, but it is your job to ensure the rigs are intact. They seem to weather better than 20 and 30 year old cars. Anyway, you are NOT wasting a trip, because you will learn. Read the archives here, on the O'Day section of Sailboatowners, and the O'Day group on Yahoo, to name a few. If you contact Rudy (mentioned above), use the phone. Good luck and great sailing!
Bill Coxe, O40 Kukulcán, New London/New Bern