O'day 27

The o'day 27 is a 27.0ft masthead sloop designed by alan p. gurney and built in fiberglass by o'day corp. between 1972 and 1979., 720 units have been built..

The O'day 27 is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.

O'day 27 sailboat under sail

O'day 27 for sale elsewhere on the web:

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

Main features

Model O'day 27
Length 27 ft
Beam 9 ft
Draft 4 ft
Country United states (North America)
Estimated price $ 0 ??

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27 ft o'day sailboat specs

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Sail area / displ. 15.35
Ballast / displ. 33.28 %
Displ. / length 254.03
Comfort ratio 23.09
Capsize 1.91
Hull type Monohull fin keel with rudder on skeg
Construction Fiberglass
Waterline length 22.75 ft
Maximum draft 4 ft
Displacement 6700 lbs
Ballast 2230 lbs
Hull speed 6.39 knots

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Rigging Masthead Sloop
Sail area (100%) 340 sq.ft
Air draft 38.50 ft
Sail area fore 204.05 sq.ft
Sail area main 136.44 sq.ft
I 35 ft
J 11.66 ft
P 29.50 ft
E 9.25 ft
Nb engines 1
Total power 0 HP
Fuel capacity 0 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity 0 gals
Headroom 0 ft
Nb of cabins 0
Nb of berths 0
Nb heads 0

Builder data

Builder O'Day Corp.
Designer Alan P. Gurney
First built 1972
Last built 1979
Number built 720

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27 ft o'day sailboat specs

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Classic Plastic: O’Day 27

  • By Jim Carrier
  • Updated: January 7, 2021

O'Day 27

There was a day, before wide screens, all-night buffets and king-size beds, when a family would cruise happily on a boat like the O’Day 27. Solid and simple, the little sloop was just right for lake, harbor or coastal exploring. Small enough for a quick daysail with friends, big enough for a weekend or week gunkholing, the 27 was hugely popular: Between 1972 and 1979, 720 boats were produced at O’Day’s factory in Fall River, Massachusetts.

George O’Day, who founded the company in 1951, wasn’t a cruiser (he won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in the 5.5 meter class), but he understood that an ­uncomplicated sailboat was something a whole family could enjoy.

Alan Gurney designed it. Famous in the high-end yachting world for Windward Passage and other one-off race boats for millionaires, Gurney is said to have worked with what sailing writer Ted Jones called “a seaman’s eye; he thought like the water through which he had sailed.” Commissioned to create an everyman’s sailboat, Gurney sketched a ­compact, almost blocky hull with a 22-foot-9-inch waterline and 4-foot draft. Half of its 5,000-pound displacement was in the lead keel, which balanced a mast 38 feet above the water, 320-square feet of sail, and the heft to carry a chute or big genoa. The hull was solid, hand-laid fiberglass, with teak brightwork to dress it up. It came equipped with outboard motors or, later, an inboard gas or diesel engine.

Step aboard, as I did on ­Jonathan Heller’s 1974 O’Day 27, moored on Lake ­Champlain in Burlington, ­Vermont, and you will first find a long cockpit with a ­tiller, an ample entryway and an interior that is surprisingly spacious, due in part to its 9-foot beam, with a fold-up table, stepped mast and 6-plus-foot headroom. According to Jones, writing in Professional Boatbuilder , an O’Day salesman complained about headroom in Gurney’s initial design. Gurney handed him a pencil and “asked him to draw where he thought the headroom should be.” If the cabin “appears to be a bit high,” Jones wrote, “that’s the reason!”

O’Day’s sales brochures for its first keel boat were hyperbolic: a “luxurious cruiser,” “big, airy sleeping accommodations for five,” “a truly superior yacht.” But at a sail-away price of under $7,000, the first O’Day 27s were an instant hit. By the end of their run, they cost $14,500.

By today’s standards, the boat’s galley and head remind me of a small ­camping trailer—adequate but tight. There’s an icebox, an alcohol stove and an ­optional shower (if you watch your ­elbows). One striking compromise is the absence of any ­anchor hardware. A bow ­pulpit was standard but nothing on which to hang a hook. Over the years, owners have also had to deal with water ­intrusion on chainplates.

The good news is that these boats can be had for a song, from $3,900 to $8,000, and that many parts are still ­available. Heller, a ­handyman, musician and father of a 3-year-old girl, purchased the boat for $7,000 from a college student who had been ­living on the hook. Still learning how to sail his yet-unnamed love, he plans to explore Champlain, a cruising ground “big enough to be challenging but not big enough to be scary.” The same could be said of the O’Day 27.

Journalist and author Jim Carrier is a CW contributing editor.

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Boat Profile

O’Day Day Sailer

A proven performer for 61 years

From Issue   Small Boats Annual 2020 July 2019

T he production of small boats was booming in the 1950s on both sides of the Atlantic, and really took off in the late ’50s with the introduction of fiberglass. Famed designers Uffa Fox and George O’Day teamed up in 1956 to create the O’Day Day Sailer. Fox is credited with introducing the technique of planing to dinghy racing and designed many significant classes of boats, including the International 14. The story goes that Fox wanted a pure racing dinghy but O’Day wanted the small cuddy added to increase appeal to the recreational market in the U.S., so Fox designed the planing hull and O’Day designed the cuddy. The resulting Day Sailer was a 16’9” centerboarder with a displacement of 575 lbs, which makes for a light load to tow behind the family car. The fractional sloop rig includes a generously sized spinnaker for exciting downwind sailing.

The first Day Sailer was sold in 1958 and immediately became popular in the recreational and racing markets. It was later designated as the Day Sailer I as four different models have since been built, with over 10,000 boats hitting the waterways. Day Sailer (DS) models I through III have been built by eight different manufacturers, with the current Day Sailer being a modified DS I with a few DS II attributes, such as the internal foam flotation and cuddy thwart. The original DS models I, II, and III were built from 1957 to 1990 by the O’Day Company in Fall River, Massachusetts. The DS I and modified versions of it were later built by Can-AM Sailcraft, Rebel, Spindrift, Precision, McLaughlin, Sunfish/Laser Inc. The current builder of the DS I+ is the Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company (CCSC) in Wareham, Massachusetts, holder of the exclusive license since 1994. The Day Sailer Class Association owns the molds that are currently used by CCSC.

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

The long side benches in the cockpit provide uncrowded seating for six. The sole is above the waterline and is self-bailing.

The early DS I can be identified by wooden thwarts, seats, and cockpit sole, a centerboard lever, open cuddy, and a transom deck. The DS II came out in 1971 with built-in foam flotation. The cuddy opening is smaller than the opening on the DS I because it also acts as a thwart, and a thinner transom allows mounting a small outboard motor without the need for a bracket. The Day Sailer I and II are considered class legal for one design racing, but the DS III is not considered race-legal due to higher freeboard on the transom, which was a departure from Fox’s hull design. O’Day built the III from 1985 to 1990, so to race in One Design regattas it is important to buy a DS I or DS II. The current Day Sailer in production is a modified version of the DS I with improved self-rescuing capabilities, two sealed air tanks, and a cuddy flotation tank with a smaller hatch.

The Day Sailer, no matter which model, is a very versatile boat, easy to rig, sail, transport, and store. With the mast down the boat and trailer take up just a few feet more than an average family car, so can be stored in most garages, though the mast may need to be stowed diagonally. At the ramp, the Day Sailer can be rigged in under 30 minutes: step the mast, add the boom, bend on the jib and main, clip the pop-up rudder onto the transom, and sort out the sheets.

Stepping the mast is the biggest challenge. The 23′4″-long racing mast is stepped through the top of the cabin onto the maststep fixed to the floor of the cuddy, and that can be tricky for one person. The mast does not weigh much, but it is helpful to have a helper at the foot of the mast to guide it into the cuddy opening. The good news with this arrangement is that once the mast is stepped, it is secure, and there’s no rush to attach the forestay.

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

A mast hinge, a popular option, makes raising the mast much easier.

About 75 percent of the new boats are delivered with a hinged mast, eliminating the awkward gymnastics of stabbing the mast through the cuddy. Once the mast is raised and the forward hole on the hinge pinned, securing the forestay to the bow fitting takes the strain off the hinge. Side stays can then be tightened to take out the slack, but no more than hand tight. Stays that are too tight can damage the hull. Tighten the nuts on the turnbuckles and tape over any cotter pins.

There are different sheeting arrangements for the boom. Some boats have sheets attached in the middle of the boom; the sheet on a DS II starts from a traveler on the transom and ends forward on a swivel cam cleat mounted to the centerboard case. The DS II boom also has a spring in the gooseneck that allowed for roller furling— disconnect the sheet, pull the boom aft, and roll the sail onto the boom. A reefing claw has to be added to connect the sheet to the sail-wrapped boom, but this design is not optimum, nor is the wad of rolled-up sail by the boom’s gooseneck. A better arrangement is to add a conventional set of reefpoints to the mainsail. The boom also has a vang to improve sail control.

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

The 6′ 3″ beam gives the Day Sailer good stability, enough to keep the boat under someone standing on the foredeck.

The jib on the racing version of the DS is a standard affair, attached with hanks onto the forestay and raised with a halyard. Some skippers add a downhaul to lower the jib from the cockpit. Both the main and jib halyards are led aft on the top of the cuddy. The recreational version of the new DS I comes with a roller-furling jib, which we consider essential for sailing dinghies, especially if singlehanding. We have added a roller-furling jib to our DS II along with the mast hinge. We also added the hardware and rigging for a spinnaker, halyard, spinnaker pole, spinnaker pole control lines, sheet blocks, and jam cleats.

T he Day Sailer is a treat to sail; it handles well, tacks with ease, and powers up quickly with its large sail area. The planing hull is responsive to the tiller, and the wide beam makes it stable. The boat will roll quickly but then sets on a tack, holding it with stable and positive helm control. The centerboard can be easily adjusted from amidships.

We sail a Drascombe Lugger and a Sunfish; the Lugger drives like the family sedan and the Sunfish like our Mustang. The Day Sailer handling is closer to that of the Sunfish—when the breeze picks up, the mainsheet needs to be held in the hand and someone should be ready on the jibsheets. The jibsheets run through the coaming on the DS I and through small cars on the DS II. For the highest performance, skippers have added tiller extensions and hiking straps. There is an outhaul on the battened main; racing versions have barber-haulers and travelers added. Pop the spinnaker, and it will scoot along quite nicely in a light breeze.

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

The Day Sailer carries 100 sq ft in the main, 45 sq ft in the jib and, for sailing off the wind, another 95 sq ft in spinnaker.

The Day Sailer’s 7′ 4″-long cockpit provides plenty of room for three adults, or two adults and two kids. With four adults it gets cozy; there is not much moving around, so whoever is sitting next to the tiller or foredeck needs to know what to do. It is easy to depower the main, reef it, or furl the jib as needed.

The cuddy is spacious for storing picnic or camping gear, and it affords a space equivalent to a two-person backpacker tent for sleeping aboard for overnight cruising. Adding a topping lift makes the boom nice ridgepole for a boom tent; there’s plenty of room to sleep in the uncluttered cockpit. The Day Sailer has completed many endurance cruising events, such as the Texas 200, Florida 120, and the Everglades Challenge.

A small kicker can be added for auxiliary power. We have used both an electric trolling motor and gas outboard, with best results coming from a 2-1/2-hp four-stroke that pushed push the boat to 6 knots at one-third throttle. The DS I will require a bracket to support and outboard; the DS II transom is thin and sturdy enough for a direct mount. If we’re not going far from home, we occasionally skip the outboard and carry a paddle; with her low coaming we have paddled her a bit, even backward over the transom.

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

The transom of the Day Sailer II will accommodate an outboard for auxiliary power. The Day Sailer I will require a bracket.

D ay Sailers are easy to find and inexpensive, considering their capabilities. If you come across one, there are few important things to check. Make sure the centerboard moves in the trunk, see that the forestay tang and bow seam are not pulled up, inspect the cuddy deck for noticeable depression which would indicate failure of the maststep under the cuddy floor, and if it is a DS II look inside the flotation compartments. Rinse her off and get her ready to sail. There is a great Day Sailer Association with a web-based forum, and excellent parts availability.

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

Audrey and Kent Lewis enjoy time with CYANE, along with their small fleet of kayaks, canoe, sailboats, and lapstrake runabout. They blog about their adventures on smallboatrestoration.blogspot.com

Day Sailer Particulars

Length:   16′ 9″ Beam:   6′ 3″ Draft, board up:   9″ Draft, board down:   3′ 9″ Displacement:   575 lbs Sail area Main:   100 sq ft Jib:   45 sq ft Spinnaker:   96 sq ft

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

The Day Sailer is built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company . Prices start at $18,335 (less sails). For more information about the Day Sailer Class, visit the Day Sailer Association .

Is there a boat you’d like to know more about? Have you built one that you think other Small Boats Monthly readers would enjoy? Please email us!

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Comments (38)

Great article Kent! I have a sister to your boat, right down to the racing mast and blue hull!! But since we’re moving to the Pacific NW, I’m about to sell it. I’m limiting myself to only 3 boats for the move (and it’s a hard sorting out!!!!). Great write-up about a fantastic boat! Thanks! Charlie

My father was George O’Day. It is nice to know the basic design that my Dad helped create is still vibrant 60 years later. I always find it interesting since Dad was a pure racing sailor that he designed a boat and saw the importance of appealing to the recreational aspect of sailing. He wanted to open the door to the bigger audience to share his passion of sailing.

I sailed with your father on a Hobie 16 at a Red Cross small craft instructor program. So much fun sailing with a legend.

Charlie we know it’s hard, the Day Sailer is such a timeless boat. If she has to change skippers, find her a good one.

Miss Beth, so wonderful to hear from a family member, it must have been quite an adventure to grow up around boating and racing. That Day Sailer hull was Cap’n Jack’s favorite, we enjoyed looking at it. Thank you for the insight into your family’s history.

Cheers, Skipper and Clark

I’ve had an O’Day for years, my first sailboat. I love sailing her around our little lake.

This boat is the best for a small family. In Brazil it’s a great option.

O’Day DS was my first brand-new boat. I was a “veteran”of maybe six months sailing in the late 1960s and she taught me to love sailing.

Great boat design. I’ve sailed different ones on and off over the years. Still a favorite.

Beth, your father made great boats as my father still has an O’Day 20 he bought new in ’76 and it’s still like new and a great sailing boat!

I recently bought a 1966 model after downsizing from a Viking 28. My father owned a Rhodes 19 and we sailed that boat for years on the western end of Lake Ontario. The design was similar, so the transition to the 16 was easy. I love the boat because even in high winds I can make a simple adjustment to the main with reef points. Solo sailing is fun and safe. I can see why so many were sold.

Hello, I just bought O’day sailboat. I do believe from what I’ve been reading that it’s a Daysailer 1. I was told this boat has never been registered and never had a kicker motor on it, I can’t find the metal tag on the transom but I see the two rivet holes where it should have been. Is there any other place on this boat to find the serial number? I would like to put a kicker on it and register it and, if not, is there a way to register this boat? Thank you for helping

The requirements to register a small boat that has not been registered before is different for each state. In NY, a boat is registered through the DMV. HIN numbers are placed on the right side of the transom. If you do not have one your boat was made prior to 1972.

Thank you for the reply, I’m working on getting a HIN number now.

Check with O’Day. Some manufacturers hide a second HIN onboard. Worth a shot.

My boat has a plate on the inside toward the front of the boat. On the bulkhead (might not be the right term) behind the mast. You’ll have to crawl into the cubby to see it. It’s a little plate 2″ x 4″ and shows Hull no. and Class no. The paperwork I have says the boat was made in 1967. Does anyone know the difference between Hull number and Class number?

Can anyone give me today’s value of a 1960 O’Day Day Sailer, #333, with a small motor that goes on the mount with sails that all sit on a Dilly trailer? It has all the original woodwork that my husband redid. It does not have a spinnaker but has the jib and main and a Proctor mast.

My daughter and I are looking for an older (less expensive) sailboat. Not sure where your at , we are South of Boston. The O’Day is our first choice. If you are going sell, please reply to this comment. Thanks

[I’ll connect sellers to John. Ed.]

16′ O’Day Day Sailor with trailer and motor

2013 DS for sale in Sharon,MA. needs work on floatation tanks

At 30 years old, I just bought my first sailboat which is a 1965 DS I. The boat has sat for a few years and she needed a good power-washing plus painting of the hull and inside the cubby and several new lines. I’m completely inexperienced with sailing (plenty of time cleaning boats, though) and couldn’t be happier to learn on such a beautiful vessel. Thanks for this article! It’s great to get some background info. Plus, plenty of words to highlight as I expand my boating vocab.

Day Sailers are easy to find? I guess you know where to look (certainly no offers in Craigslist). I have not been lucky enough to come across a good one that is 10 to 20 years old. I live in Massachusetts. Would you mind sharing where to look for one?

I have an O’Day day sailer 16.5 ‘ up for the taking. Our family had years of good times sailing and camping with It. Great family boat. Wooden seats and rails. Needs some work. In central Massachusetts

I am assuming you have gotten rid of your O’Day day sailer – if not, I may be interested. I’m new to sailing at 57 years young! I just took lessons at KYC here in Blue Hill, ME and am looking for a great starter boat that I can learn in and have fun on the bay.

Thanks, Kelly

Actually, I just bought a 1989 DS2 from Craigslist, on trailer, for $300. It needs only minor work and a lot of cleaning. I hope to float it Saturday to see if it sinks like a rock (I know it has flotation), and will need glass work, but I could see nothing amiss while on the trailer.

So, never say never.

Hi Laranja, I just read your comment about trying to find a used O’Day Day Sailer. I live in Wareham where Cape Cod Shipbuilding is located, they are the current builders of the Day Sailer. They usually have used boats available. I have a 1971 DS, a wonderful boat.

I have a 2013 DS for sale in Sharon,MA. needs work on floatation tanks

Fantastic article

Interested in purchasing a fine example that was actively sailed

I agree with the many positive comments above. Great article! I was a longtime owner of an O’Day Widgeon (14′), and after many boat-less years I’m pleased to have purchased a 1984 O’Day Daysailer II just last week. It’s in good condition, and after sourcing a few needed part, I’ll enjoy it on lakes here in Georgia. Thanks for the great article, which has served as an orientation of sorts for me as to what to expect when I launch her for her maiden voyage under my ownership. A long-time marketing and sales executive, I’m naming her SAILS CALL!

I just got a DaySailer, thought it was a 67 DS1 but the transom is thick with a box on the port side by the transom so not sure now DSII?

I just today bought and brought home to MA a 1966 O’Day Day Sailer (as shown on the registration from NH), and it has a thick transom with lidded box on the port side. Also has a wide cuddly opening and wooden cowling and thwarts as described above for a DSI.

We’re down sizing from a 53′ Pearson to an O’Day 18 that someone offered us. I have no qualms about the sailing, but the temperature of the water here (Massachusetts to Connecticut) worries me very much, after a lifetime in the tropics. Are these dry boats when sailed conservatively?

I have a 2013 Cape Cod built DS for sale in MA. Needs some work on floatation tanks.

I just sold our Venturer 22 and picked up (rescued) an O’Day 16 DS. A couple weeks in the shop and it looks ready to sail. One question: the roller reefed main (boom) does not “lock in.” I suppose I could jiffy reef it but does anyone have experience with the roller reefing boom? Am I missing a part (the claw) or do I just not get it.

I want to buy an O’Day sail 17′

We have a 1976, 17′ foot O’Day DSll (?) on trailer that we are transferring to another family member. We are trying to figure out the best way to get it from Oregon to New Hampshire. Any ideas out there?

Great article. My only question is we’ve had the 69 O’day Javelin in the family since gramps bought it new but it always seemed too easy to get into trouble with and the one time we turned it over on a very windy day. It was nearly impossible to right back up without a lot of help. So I’m wondering if the DAYSAILER is a much better and more stable boat and more forgivable. There certainly are more of them around too. Thanks, Ed on Long Beach Island at the Jersey shore

Kent/Audrey,

What trailer make and model do you use for your DS?

Thanks, John in VA Beach

Hi all O’Day fans! I’ve been looking for a lightweight, skinny water sailboat that is fairly easy to row AND also has some sort of cabin arraignment, The boat would be used to beachcruise and camp on Florida’s Gulf Coast and in the Keys. I had almost given up on anything with a cabin until I ran across the O’Day 17, I may have found the perfect boat. Now all I need do is find one in my price range and learn how to sail !!! Oh, anyone out there have any experience in the Everglades Challenge? Fair winds and following seas…….

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O''Day 27''

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O''''Day 27'''' Does anyone have negative inputs on the 27'' Oday, as I am looking at one for a first ( salt water) boat. It is a 1978, very clean and well maintained. I would keep it for a few years, than trade up, and wondering about re-sale value hoding as well. Thanks J.C.  

Buy Your O'Day 27' Bought a '79 27' O'Day in July 2007. Absolutely love the boat, as does my wife and my 40-year old sailing son. Big step up from my former O'Day 23'. Sails like a dream--very quick. Nice accommodations for a weekend cruising couple. Yanmar crapped the bed on haul-out day 07, so I repowered with a new, larger (13 HP) 2-lung Yanmar. Runs like a top. Sustained some damange on haul-out day 08 (I'm not going to haul it out next year) and am in process of a complete hull and keel rebuilding--turns out upon scraping and sanding that the boat was extensively damaged somewhere in the last 30 years and not repaired correctly. Yes, despite this information I still love the boat--but I would suggest more than 1 surveyer look your boat over. Our surveryor missed some pretty significant (though well hidden) repair work. For next season I will have a "Brand-new '79 O'Day" with a 1-season new engine. I'm a happy guy. Great family boat, based on informal harbor runs I think it would race well. Very stable and forgiving. Did I say I love the boat?  

Resale? You should pay in the $5.5K - $8K range based on ads I see, so how much can you lose? If you keep it well-maintained, you should get most of it back. Mine I will sail "forever".  

Rebuilt a '77 O 27 in 1999. No need to trade up unless your'e planning some really long trips on the ocean. Boat is comfortable, stable and fairly speedy. The A4 has been replaced with a Yanmar 1GM10 which uses no fuel and sails replaced at Doyle. Inexpensive and great fun.  

I owned and lived on my 1974 27' O'Day for the past five years, I sailed it all the time. It is the only boat I have owned but I can not think of one resaon I would not recommend this boat to others, there does seem to be a agh "attitude" toward O'Days like they are not "real" sailboats. The only ones that could beat me accross the bay were the Yatch Club racers. Go for it - I have one in Pensacola I'm selling - needs some work but it's solid $4500. They are fast and fun to sail!  

Do you have a listing for the 27' you are selling in Pensacola? work needed? thanks, Dan Clearwater  

MaineJC said: Does anyone have negative inputs on the 27'' Oday, as I am looking at one for a first ( salt water) boat. It is a 1978, very clean and well maintained. I would keep it for a few years, than trade up, and wondering about re-sale value hoding as well. Thanks J.C. Click to expand...

Tell Me About Those Zinks Is there some science to placing the zinks on the shaft? And are more than 1 zink recommended and, if so, why?  

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

From all the info I gathered, and from looking at a lot of boats, it's well built, and can out sail it's competitors of the same era. What I don't like about it is it's cramped interior compared to it's rivals. But what you lose in space you gain in sailing quality. It has a very large cockpit as well.  

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

eMKay said: What I don't like about it is it's cramped interior compared to it's rivals. But what you lose in space you gain in sailing quality. It has a very large cockpit as well. Click to expand...

To The O'Day Tack: if the zinks are not placed properly this strut can be affected by electrolysis and break as it is less the a half inch wide. it is expensive to fix (Speaking from experience . Please describe how the zinks should be properly placed. Is there some science to this?  

Sold mine 4 years ago I sold mine 4 years ago. I miss it every day! I bought it in Chicago and put it on a trailer and brought it home to MN. The only complaints that I ever had was, the 10 hp motor was under powered. Also with the rudder hanging off of the transom it took a while for the boat to respond to steering after you put it in gear. This made it harder to dock. As far as sailing the boat it was a sweet experience. It was very easy to sail single handed. I'm sorry that I had to sell it before I had the chance to sail it on Lake Superior. DBS  

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

Dan, That post was 5 years ago. Hopefully the boat sold by now.  

I have a new to me '77 O'day 27 that I'm sailing on Lake Superior. There are quite a few cosmetic issues I plan to address, but other than that, we're quite happy with our purchase. (bought yesterday, sailed only today). I'm only reviving this thread in hopes of continued O'day 27 discussion. We're planning on cruising the south shore of Superior as a couple + 2y/o daughter. non-custom bimini options? factory wiring diagrams? We're in love with the large tall saloon and deep cockpit. Problems will arise I'm sure, but for now this O'day 27 is an impressive entry cruiser. Adam  

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

deniseO30 said: in or outboard? :worthless: 27s were unique I think. the 28 up to 40 ft are like clones getting larger and larger. Click to expand...

Great link, thanks! new/unused for half the price, much more up my alley.  

I have a1987 27le. I love the boat except. There is always one of them. My engine is a westerbeke 10 2. The timing case cover broke. A very big deal. It broke due to a design flaw. Back to the boat it is a great boat. For the price that I paid I have no complaints. Enjoy your boat. It's a good boat  

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1976 O'Day 27 Manual and Tech Specs.

  • Thread starter Shemlock
  • Start date Jan 23, 2011
  • Oday Owner Forums
  • Bigger Boats

Just bought a 27 ODay and need to move the shroud chainplates back to inboard where they were originally mounted.I have replaced the bulkheads and will have to beef up the deck where the old plates attached.I dont have any old hardware or clue as to what the deck mounting hardware is and the spacing.The upper shroud opening is still in the old tabbing and is a good reference to its location.I measured the new locations outboard and they are all appox. 18" center to center.Does this match anyone's specs.?If anyone has a manual, blueprints,or technical specs.on this boat I would pay to have a copy. Thanks for reading, Todd  

25yearslater

25yearslater

Hello Shemlock. See "And so it begins" page 2 for chainplate locations as I have just gone out in minus 5 degrees and aquired the measurements from YOT. I have edited the post to include these measurements. I can also E-mail you the 27 manual but the lads were unable to convert the format to post online. PM with your E-mail and I will send them to you. And so it begins thread is my complete restoration of an Oday 27 which gives a look see at just about everything I am running across and the problems/successes I am encountering. It also contains many facts on the 27 and other Oday models provided by other Oday owners. Feel free to add your own insights there as you make new discoveries.  

25yearslater said: Hello Shemlock. See "And so it begins" page 2 for chainplate locations as I have just gone out in minus 5 degrees and aquired the measurements from YOT. I have edited the post to include these measurements. I can also E-mail you the 27 manual but the lads were unable to convert the format to post online. PM with your E-mail and I will send them to you. And so it begins thread is my complete restoration of an Oday 27 which gives a look see at just about everything I am running across and the problems/successes I am encountering. It also contains many facts on the 27 and other Oday models provided by other Oday owners. Feel free to add your own insights there as you make new discoveries. Click to expand

Hi Joe, Wanted to update you on my progress.I did get a scale drawing of the 27 and for anybody's future reference all shrouds are 18"in. on center.I believe the fore and aft shroud chainplates have a 11 degree bend to them?Ive removed all the old bulkheads and have cut and in process of finishing the hew ones.Next is to repair the weak spots in the old chainplate areas and reinforce with over sized backer plates and custom chainplates.Joe do you have any pics. of your refit?  

Ahoy there Shemlock. Huh, the slots on my inner deck skin were 17.5 inches from the upper shroud chainplate. Must of been a Monday morning boat. Anyway to the question at hand. And so it begins page 2 shows my method of reinstalling the chainplates. Since I was recoring the deck I had the opportunity to modify the chainplate mounting method and add epoxy windows around those areas. Assuming all 76 27s were constructed the same way you will find the deck outer skin 3/16ths inch thick, the balsa core 3/8ths thick and the inner deck skin. The cabin liner, which is not the inner deck skin, has some mystery material filling those 4, 4" X 10" molded in holes that when the material is removed provide access to the chainplates. My 27 had a previous attempt to epoxy infuse the core on the starboard side that was less than ideal. That is going to be recored come spring as once water is allowed into the core it readilly migrates to areas all over the place. If you find yourself in that position don't get too upset as recoring seems more intimidating than it really is. It isn't all that expensive either. Just remember, the hull is the critical part of any boat. All the rest is fluff. The hull is the thing that makes it float and that makes it a boat.  

Hello, 25 Years Later Do you still have a 1976 O'Day 27 "manual and tech specs" available to email? I recently purchased a '76 O'Day 27 and would be very interested in a manual. My boat was surveyed and is in pretty decent shape save for some leakage around the toe rail above the (port) quarter berth. Thank you.  

25yearslater said: Ahoy there Shemlock. Huh, the slots on my inner deck skin were 17.5 inches from the upper shroud chainplate. Must of been a Monday morning boat. Anyway to the question at hand. And so it begins page 2 shows my method of reinstalling the chainplates. Since I was recoring the deck I had the opportunity to modify the chainplate mounting method and add epoxy windows around those areas. Assuming all 76 27s were constructed the same way you will find the deck outer skin 3/16ths inch thick, the balsa core 3/8ths thick and the inner deck skin. The cabin liner, which is not the inner deck skin, has some mystery material filling those 4, 4" X 10" molded in holes that when the material is removed provide access to the chainplates. My 27 had a previous attempt to epoxy infuse the core on the starboard side that was less than ideal. That is going to be recored come spring as once water is allowed into the core it readilly migrates to areas all over the place. If you find yourself in that position don't get too upset as recoring seems more intimidating than it really is. It isn't all that expensive either. Just remember, the hull is the critical part of any boat. All the rest is fluff. The hull is the thing that makes it float and that makes it a boat. Click to expand

Hi jeferie. PM me with your E-mail and I will send it to you. It's in MS word format. The 27 toe rail screws are beyond the core capsule so other than making a mess of your hull liner the core is safe. Some pics of the recoring are on page 1 of 'And so it begins' thread Shemlock. If you need some more let me know and I can E-mail them. Check out the West Systems Fiberglass Boat Repair manual for the details. It is a very concise primer on just about all types of repairs. It's the method I am following and the info is fantastic.  

I just bought a 1977 Oday 27. Do you still have a manual in Word format that you can email? If so could you send me a copy at [email protected] . If not could you tell me where I might find one. Thank you very much. Ron  

Hello 25yearlater I Just discovered this web site and was very excited to see that you have the '76 27' ODay manual in tact. I purchased a '77 27' ODay a year ago and have had no luck hunting the manual down. Do you know if the '76 manual is compatible with the '77? The little bit of reading I have done suggests that they are. I would be extremely grateful if i could get a copy of it.  

PM me with your E-mail and I will send it right off.  

Martinioday

Hi I just bought an 1977 Oday 27 can I a copy of your owners manual? my e-mail [email protected] Thanks so much  

25yearslater said: PM me with your E-mail and I will send it right off. Click to expand
Shemlock said: Just bought a 27 ODay and need to move the shroud chainplates back to inboard where they were originally mounted.I have replaced the bulkheads and will have to beef up the deck where the old plates attached.I dont have any old hardware or clue as to what the deck mounting hardware is and the spacing.The upper shroud opening is still in the old tabbing and is a good reference to its location.I measured the new locations outboard and they are all appox. 18" center to center.Does this match anyone's specs.?If anyone has a manual, blueprints,or technical specs.on this boat I would pay to have a copy. Thanks for reading, Todd Click to expand

lagune

tuscolablue

New27oday91611.

can you send me a copy of the manual, I just bought a 75 27 oday. [email protected] thanks  

electrocohort

Someone please send a copy of the manual to [email protected] . Thanks so much!  

Check your e-mail. I just sent it. Great boat by the way.  

DoctorYankee

DoctorYankee

25yearslater said: Check your e-mail. I just sent it. Great boat by the way. Click to expand
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O’Day 22

A nice cockpit, a touch of privacy and good looks, but performance is not a strong suit here..

O’Day Boats was around a long time by fiberglass boatbuilding standards—about 30 years. Originally O’Day was a leader in small boats typified by the Fox-designed Day Sailer.

O’Day 22

By the early ’70s O’Day had moved into the trailerable cruising boat market. In the meantime the firm was acquired by Bangor Punta along with such other major boat builders as Cal and Ranger Yachts. In later years, with the decline in volume sales of small boats, O’Day had problems. To help alleviate these, O’Day produced larger and larger boats, first a 30, then a 32, and more recently a 34 and a 37.

All the cruising size boats in the O’Day line were designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates in one of the most enduring designer-builder relationships in the industry (rivaled, in fact, only by Bill Lapworth’s tenure as Cal’s house designer and Bruce King’s with Ericson Yachts). The result of the relationship is a family resemblance in the O’Day line that is more than superficial. What proves popular in one boat is apt to be adopted in subsequent kin. Therefore, any study of the O’Day offerings over the years reflects a process of evolution.

When it was introduced, the O’Day 22 was touted as a competitive contender on the race course, a contrasting companion to the rather hazy 23-footer which it would soon phase out. The 22 had a masthead rig, a stylish rake to the transom, shallow (23″) draft with a short stub keel and no centerboard, light weight (advertised 1,800 lbs) for trailering, and a price under $3,000.

Later, the 22 acquired a fractional rig, a centerboard, 300 advertised pounds and a price tag almost $7,000 higher.

Construction

O’Day once set a standard for small boat construction and styling. That was before on and off labor problems in its plant, management changes under Bangor Punta, the decline in sales of boats in its size range, and increasingly fierce competition for buyers who became more cost than quality conscious. The later O’Day 22s were, frankly, a mixed bag of quality and shabbiness.

The spars, rigging, and hardware are as high quality as we have seen in comparable boats. Our only reservation is with the stamped stainless steel hinged mast step that we know from personal experience requires a steady hand and boat when raising or lowering a mast.

We also think that a mainsheet which terminates in a cam action cleat 16″ up the single backstay may be economical and simple but it is neither efficient nor handy, again a reflection of scrimping to keep price low.

The quality of O’Day fiberglass laminates was historically high but there have been reader reports of gelcoat voids and there is consistent evidence of print through (pattern of laminate in gelcoat). Exterior styling and proportions are superb, an opinion iterated by owners who have returned the PS Boat Owners’ Questionnaires. The O’Day 22, despite her age, is still not outdated.

On a boat of this size and price, a minimum of exterior trim is understandable. What is less understandable is the poor quality of the interior finish and decor. Belowdecks the O’Day 22 epitomizes the pejorative label Clorox bottle , used to describe fiberglass boats. Sloppily fitted bits of teak trim are matched against teak-printed Formica, at best a tacky combination. Cabinetry, such as there is, is flimsy, and in general the whole impression is of lackluster attention to details.

Performance

Without a centerboard the O’Day 22 simply did not have the performance to go with her racy image. Even with the centerboard she is hardly a ball of fire under sail. She does not point well; tacking through 100 degrees is not uncommon and she is tender, with a disconcerting desire to round up when a puff hits. In light air, with her 3/4 fore triangle and working jib she is under-canvassed and sluggish. In such conditions a genoa with substantial overlap is essential.

Since changing jibs is at best a dicey exercise on a 22 footer, the first step in reducing sail is to reef the mainsail. Jiffy reefing is standard and owners of the O’Day should have a system in good working order and know how to use it. Owners of the boat in waters where squalls are a threat may also want to consider roller furling for the larger jib, trading off the loss of performance and added cost for such a rig for the convenience and, in the case of this boat, the safety.

The O’Day is most hurt in light air downwind and most owners will want either an 8′-or-so whisker pole for winging the jib, or a spinnaker. It is a fun boat on which to learn spinnaker handling. With her fractional rig the spinnaker is relatively small and yet the boat is big enough to provide a foredeck platform for setting the sail.

O’Day 22

The trouble is that the O’Day 22 scrimps on the hardware needed for ease of handling with or without a spinnaker. The two #10 Barient sheet winches are, in our opinion, inadequate for anything larger than a working jib and we suggest replacing them with optional #16s. Similarly, the working jib sheets lead to fixed blocks whereas lengths of track with adjustable blocks (fitted to some boats as an option) are far better for optimizing sail trim.

The O’Day did not come with halyard winches as standard. It is a large boat for setting and reefing sails with hand tension alone. Most owners will want at least one small winch (#10) on the cabin roof, with the jib and main halyards led aft through jam cleats or stoppers to the winch.

The fairing of the O’Day 22 underwater is better than average, helped by the fact that the lead ballast is encapsulated in the fiberglass hull molding. The centerboard will, however, be difficult to maintain.

Like many other boats of her size on the market, the O’Day 22 is basically a daysailer with incidental overnight accommodations, notwithstanding that her builder (or its ad agency) made much of its questionable comfort, privacy, and space.

The cockpit of the O’Day is almost perfect: a spacious 6-1/2′ long, the seats are spaced to allow bracing of feet on the one opposite, and the coaming provides a feeling of security and serves as a comfortable arm rest. It is also self-bailing although the low sill at the companionway means that the lower hatch board must be in place to prevent water going below in the event of a knockdown.

Seat locker space is excellent for a boat of this size with quarterberth below and we like the separate sealed well for the outboard remote gas tank (but not the fact that the hose can be pinched in use).

O’Day literature boasts berths for two couples in “absolute privacy.” Privacy in a 22 footer has to be one of the more relative features. A sliding door encloses the forward cabin and another, the head.

The layout of the O’Day 22 is a noteworthy example of the tradeoff between an enclosed head and berth space. It does indeed have a head area that can be enclosed, a rare feature indeed on a boat of this size. With a conventional marine toilet and throughhull discharge where permitted, this would be a most serviceable facility.

The tradeoff is a pair of terrible vee berths forward. Coming to a point at the forward end, there is simply not enough room for two adults on even the most intimate terms. They are thus suitable only for a pair of small children who do not suffer from sibling rivalry.

By contrast the two settee berths in the main cabin are a bit narrow but a fit place for two adults to sleep. In contrast to the dinette layout of other boats, we think the more traditional layout of the O’Day would be the choice for most owners, especially those cruising with children. However, the settees are not comfortable to sit on, lacking as they do backrests.

The initial version of the O’Day had the then fashionable dinette arrangement but this was quickly replaced by a pair of opposing settees. We doubt if many owners would bother setting up the portable cabin table between the berths, as it prevents the fore and aft passage through the cabin.

The galley with its small sink and space for a twoburner stove is rudimentary but adequate for a boat of this size, Inadequate is the bin/hanging locker opposite the head. Its usefulness escapes us. Enclosed, it could have been better used space. But then the O’Day 22 desperately needs stowage space.

Conclusions

At a minimum trailering weight of 2,200 lbs. (more realistically 2,500 plus the trailer), the O’Day 22 is above the maximum for trailering without a heavy car and special gear.

If she isn’t going to be trailered and launched off a ramp, the 2′ minimum draft is an unwarranted sacrifice of performance and stability. We would look for a fin keel boat unless shoal draft is the highest priority.

On the other hand, with some additional sails and hardware the O’Day 22 should appeal to the sailor who wants a minimum size (and therefore price) boat primarily for daysailing and occasional weekend cruising (maximum one couple plus two young children).

Clearly the O’Day 22 is a minimum boat built tightly to a price. She is attractively styled. As she is apt to be a first boat, resale is important. O’Day boats have enjoyed good value on the used boat market. For about $6,000 for a ten-year-old model, you get a sleek looking small boat with a good cockpit, a modicum of privacy and two good berths. You also get a schlocky decor and a slow boat.

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hi, do you sell parts for boat 22ft o-day ? are you in england ? the part i want is the part the black boat

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    Beam:  12'7'    Draft:  6'4'
    Beam:  11' 6'    Draft:  5'
    Beam:  10'    Draft:  5'
    Beam:  11.5'    Draft:  5'
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  5''
    Beam:  11.33'    Draft:  5'
    Beam:  11'    Draft:  4'11'
    Beam:  12'    Draft:  6'
    Beam:  11' 3'    Draft:  4' 5'
    Beam:  11.2'    Draft:  5'7'
    Beam:  11.3'    Draft:  5'
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  4'5'
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  5'7'
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  5' 7'
    Beam:  11'    Draft:  5'7'
    Beam:  11' 5'    Draft:  4'5'
    Beam:  11'-3'    Draft:  5'-7'
    Beam:  11-6'    Draft:  5-7'
    Beam:  11.5'    Draft:  4.5'
    Beam:  11.25'    Draft:  5.58'
    Beam:  11' 3'    Draft:  5' 6'
    Beam:  11'9'    Draft:  5'7'
    Beam:  11.25'    Draft:  5.5'
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  4'3'
    Draft:  5'7'
    Beam:  10.25'    Draft:  4.5'
    Beam:  11'3"'    Draft:  5'7"'
    Beam:  11.3'    Draft:  5.3'
    Beam:  11'    Draft:  5''
    Draft:  5'
    Beam:  11'3''    Draft:  4'3''
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  4' 3'
    Beam:  11.25'    Draft:  4.5'
    Beam:  11'3'    Draft:  4'3'
    Beam:  10'    Draft:  7'
    Beam:  10.5'    Draft:  3'2'
    Beam:  10.5'    Draft:  5.5'
    Beam:  10'    Draft:  4.5'
    Beam:  10'8'    Draft:  4 2'
    Beam:  10.8'    Draft:  4.5'
    Beam:  10'8'    Draft:  4'2'
    Beam:  11'    Draft:  4'
    Beam:  10.67'    Draft:  4.16'
    Beam:  10.5'    Draft:  3.4'
    Beam:  10'8'    Draft:  4'2'
    Beam:  10'4'    Draft:  4'
    Beam:  10'7'    Draft:  4'2'
    Beam:  10'    Draft:  4.2'
    Beam:  10' 8'    Draft:  4' 2'
    Beam:  11'    Draft:  4'

27 ft o'day sailboat specs

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IMAGES

  1. O'day 27' sailboat

    27 ft o'day sailboat specs

  2. 27' O'Day Sailboat reduced for winter (Tenants Habor MN)

    27 ft o'day sailboat specs

  3. O'Day 27

    27 ft o'day sailboat specs

  4. O'Day 27

    27 ft o'day sailboat specs

  5. O'Day 27' Sailboat in Atlanta, GA

    27 ft o'day sailboat specs

  6. 1978 O'Day 27 sailboat for sale in Maryland

    27 ft o'day sailboat specs

COMMENTS

  1. O'DAY 27

    Deep keel: 5.3'/1.62m. Inboard engine available as an option - displacement: 6,950 lb/3,152 kg

  2. O'day 27

    The O'day 27 is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.

  3. O'Day 27

    O'Day 27 is a 27′ 0″ / 8.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Alan Gurney and built by Bangor Punta Corp. and O'Day Corp. between 1972 and 1979.

  4. Classic Plastic: O'Day 27

    O'Day's sales brochures for its first keel boat were hyperbolic: a "luxurious cruiser," "big, airy sleeping accommodations for five," "a truly superior yacht.". But at a sail-away price of under $7,000, the first O'Day 27s were an instant hit. By the end of their run, they cost $14,500. By today's standards, the boat's ...

  5. O'DAY 27: Reviews, Specifications, Built, Engine

    If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of O'DAY 27. Built by O'Day Corp. and designed by Alan Gurney, the boat was first built in 1972. It has a hull type of Fin with rudder on skeg and LOA is 8.23. Its sail area/displacement ratio 15.35. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined ...

  6. O'Day 27 Specifications & Standard Equipment

    O'Day 27 Yacht Standard Equipment and Specifications (1977) HIGHLIGHTS. Bow pulpit — SS welded Lifelines w/stanchions. 2 Genoa/Jib winches w/handle. Halyard winch w/handle Curtains on all windows 2-burner alcohol stove, recessed. 5" Fabric berth cushions main cabin; 4" cushions other berths. Self-contained head Bilge pump—hand.

  7. O'Day Day Sailer

    Small boat production was booming in the 1950s. Famed designers Uffa Fox and George O'Day teamed up in 1956 to create the O'Day Day Sailer.

  8. O''Day 27''

    Bought a '79 27' O'Day in July 2007. Absolutely love the boat, as does my wife and my 40-year old sailing son. Big step up from my former O'Day 23'. Sails like a dream--very quick. Nice accommodations for a weekend cruising couple. Yanmar crapped the bed on haul-out day 07, so I repowered with a new, larger (13 HP) 2-lung Yanmar.

  9. O'Day 27 Winning Combination of Ideas

    The O'Day 27 Sailboat, A Winning Combination of Ideas We say this with some hesitation, but the aggressive good looks of the O'Day 27 are not deceiving. The performance is as explosive as the promise.

  10. 1976 O'Day 27 Manual and Tech Specs.

    Hi 25, I became the proud owner of a 1976 27' O'day in late 2008. She was fully restored in 2005/6. Don't know if there was a problem with the deck core, but solid now and overall excellent condition. If interested, I can send you photos. BTW, if you could email me the specs to [email protected] I'd appreciate it.

  11. O'Day 22

    1. O'Day Boats was around a long time by fiberglass boatbuilding standards—about 30 years. Originally O'Day was a leader in small boats typified by the Fox-designed Day Sailer. O'Day 22 Specifications. By the early '70s O'Day had moved into the trailerable cruising boat market. In the meantime the firm was acquired by Bangor Punta ...

  12. O'Day Sailboat Specifications

    O'Day Sailboat Specifications - 1967 Sailboat Specifications for the O'Day Outlaw, Tempest, International Tempest, Mariner C/B, Mariner K, Rhodes 19 C/B, Rhodes 19 K, Day Sailor, Ospray, Javelin C/B, Javelin K, Widgeon, I/C Standard, Sprite, 7/11 S, 7/11 R, Flying Saucer, Super Swift, and the Swift.

  13. O'DAY 28

    A keel/cb verion of the the O'DAY 28 was also available. Draft BU: 3.25', BD: 6.83'; ballast: 2,725 lbs / 1,236 kg. Also available with a gasoline OMC Saildrive 2 cylinder motor.

  14. PDF DRAFT

    SAFETY INFORMATION The mast, the stays, and all other parts of O'Day sailboats, following the general boating industry practice, are not grounded, except inboard models which are grounded. Should your O'Day sailboat be struck by lightning or make contact with electrical power lines, substantial injury may result to the occupants. We recommend that if you wish to be protected from injury ...

  15. Resources for owners of Oday. Photos, downloads, owner modifications

    Resources Owner modifications, manuals, boat reviews, photos, owner directory, boats for sale, much more!

  16. 1987 O'Day Prices, Values and Specs

    Once the largest sailboat manufacturer in the United States, the company O'Day was created in 1958 by America Cup sailor George O'Day. Creating a wide variety of sailing vessels ranging from day-sailers to 40-foot yachts, O'Day success was accredited ...See More. 1987 O'Day Prices & Values - J.D. Power.

  17. O'DAY 26

    Max recommended HP: 15 Available with optional inboard diesel.

  18. ODay sailboats for sale by owner.

    ODay preowned sailboats for sale by owner. ODay used sailboats for sale by owner.

  19. O'Day Corp.

    O'Day Corp. Founded by famed Americas Cup sailor and olympic medalist George O'Day. In the beginning George O'Day Associates was only a distributor for several brands of small Sailboats. Some were produced by Fairey Marine of England and Marscot Plastics in the USA. (O'Day took over Marscot in 1958 to build the RHODES 19.) Soon he became involved in producing his own line of boats. Among the ...

  20. O'DAY 25

    One of company's most successful models and in production for nearly a decade. A majority were delivered with a keel/cb, but a fixed keel version was also available… -Draft: 4.50'/1.37m -Sail area: 290 Sqft -Displacement: 3,962 lbs -Ballast: 1,775 lbs. -Mast height above DWL: 35.67 ft I: 32.00′ / 9.75m J: 10.60′ / 3.23m P: […]

  21. O'DAY 22

    One of the most successful of all O'Day models with more than 3000 built. A fractional rig was adopted after 1980 (as shown here). Available with keel/cb and fixed keel. (The version with a mashead rig listed here as O'DAY 22 MH)

  22. O'DAY 272

    O'DAY 272 Save to Favorites BOTH US IMPERIAL METRIC Sailboat Specifications Definitions

  23. O'DAY 23-2

    Successor and similar to, the original O'DAY 23 (w/pop top companionway). The O'DAY 23 (all versions) was in production for more than 10 years and was one of the company's most popular models. Also built in Brazil and sold under the same name.