Opinions on possible purchase of this Oday 37.

pogosmoke · #1 (**permalink**) 02-26-2011

Im looking at purchasing this Oday 37. I havent had a survey done I have looked at it in person and have asked the owner if it was an iron keel but he did not know for sure but he said it looked to him like it was lead when he had it repainted. It will mostly be sailed in the bay but would like to know that if I wanted to go bluewater sailing maybe one day cross the pond etc it would be capable. Also Ive heard that with a 5ft draft the keys are out of the question is this true? Asking price is $28000

Quote:

The boat has been upgraded with a 30HP Yanmar diesel engine and other features are a Simrad helm auto-pilot, two year old sails and new rigging with roller furling, two anchors, stainless steel dinghy davits off the stern, a FRESH coat of bottom paint, and a full canvas enclosure over the center cockpit to provide protection from wind and weather. The tank sizes of 28 gal fuel and 150 gal water make this boat suitable for long range cruises. The draft is 5 ft and keel stepped mast is 47 clearance rated.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2011

Easy way to tell if it has an iron keel...bring a magnet along... if it is lead, the magnet won't stick or be attracted to it...if it is cast iron, it'll stick pretty well.

I'd recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I wrote as it will help you get an idea of what condition this boat is really in and whether it is worth looking into further.

As for going bluewater with it... I wouldn't do that, at least without some fairly heavy modifications to the boat. It wasn't designed as a bluewater cruiser AFAIK. It could probably do it, given the proper weather window, but it certainly isn't going to be ideal for such a passage.

As for the Bahamas, a 5' draft will require you to be extra vigilant in your reef passages and while sailing the banks, but should be doable. At least one friend of mine has done the Bahamas in a deeper draft boat than that.

pogosmoke · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011

So what are the major hang ups for blue water cruising for this boat? Is it water/fuel storage etc? Or more of strength of build? Would it be suitable to sail from the Panhandle to the Keys/Carribean? If not what would it take?

christyleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011

A few friends of mine - 2 couples - chartered an O'Day 37 like that 30 years ago in the Caribbean. Of course all that means is that the charter company thought it was OK. Well it didn't fall apart underneath them and they had a good time.

PalmettoSailor · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by pogosmoke

So what are the major hang ups for blue water cruising for this boat? Is it water/fuel storage etc? Or more of strength of build? Would it be suitable to sail from the Panhandle to the Keys/Carribean? If not what would it take?

Folks would generally consider your description above more coastal cruising since you'd only need a 2-3 day planning window between safe harbors. That's well within the ability to have a pretty accurate forecast and a well found Oday should be quite capable for that purpose.

When folks speak of "bluewater boats" they are usually referring to boats intended for passages beyond the forecast horizon, generally of a duration that you can expect to have a weather event that would be at best uncomfortable it not risky on coastal boat.

gypsysouls · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011

There is an ODay 37 here in Australia that sailed out from the USA. does that qualify as an ocean voyage? shehas also cruised PNG extensively also.

PalmettoSailor · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsysouls

There is an ODay 37 here in Australia that sailed out from the USA. does that qualify as an ocean voyage? shehas also cruised PNG extensively also.

Yes it does, but it doesn't change the fact that the boat is more suited to coastal crusing.

People crossed oceans for hundreds of years in craft that were arguably less capable than a production fiberglass sailboat because the craft they had was the best available, but today there are choices.

Choose wisely.

denverd0n · #8 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011

The Keys are definitely not "out of the question" with a 5' draft. You will be able to get around pretty well, in fact, but you will have to keep an eye on your charts and the water depth.