1988 O'Day 35

May 5, 2017
30
Catalina C36 mkII PA
Hello all members and owners. I'm looking for some pointers and advice on this boat. Recently I sold my 1987 Catalina30 and now looking at 1988 35-O'Day apparently in "good" shape. I would love to hear opinions, advice, pointers etc what to look for when checking out this boat. The boat is sitting in Caribbean island and access to boat surveyor is very limited. Right now this boat is priced in the $23-25 thousand and it was listed first in April 2017. Is there anything I should specifically look for? Every boat has some weak points and is prone to something if not taken care of. I will be heading to look at the boat next week so any info from owners and anybody who knows this boats will be greatly appreciated.
The owner says that deck rot has been taken care of whatever that means. I am familiar with fibreglass work, mechanical issues etc. Original Universal has been refitted with Westerbeke engine
 
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Jun 1, 2007
265
O'Day 322 Mt.Sinai
I have 2 friends that each have an O35 and love it! One just sailed his down from NY to FL Gulf coast for the winter. Not sure what specifically you need to look for, but I can say that both love their '35.
 
Apr 22, 2011
865
Hunter 27 Pecan Grove, Oriental, NC
I really liked our O'day 37 which is similar to the 35. They do have iron keels that can show rust stains if not coated well. The iron keel does have one advantage over lead, especially in an older boat, in that the keel boats can be removed and checked by unscrewing them. The price of the one in Isla seems a little high. Also you could have problems bringing it back to the states if the sales taxes have never been paid on it. Did you see this one in Maryland: https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/o-day-35-3199803/?refSource=browse listing ?
 
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May 5, 2017
30
Catalina C36 mkII PA
The plan is to keep it there as I spend most of the time there. Are the bolts creating any problems like rust, micro cracks etc? Are they accessible from the bilge well? As for the price, you think it is still high with the upgrades listed? Any problems with blistering on the hull? What should I specifically look for. Catalinas from those years had very solid connection for keels to the hull but had problems with compression blocks under their masts.
 
Aug 7, 2018
179
Catalina 350 Great Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario
We have a 34 and love it. The transom was the only change from 34 to 35 I think it was marketing based. Sell it as a 35. The price does seems high for a salt water boat of that vintage compared to others we looked at prior to purchase. Looks like the interior will need work. Electronics? Standing rigging? Sails? I don't think you can justify spending thousands on interior @ the price they are asking. We purchased our 83 34' in July 2018 for 15k on Lake Ontario in good shape except vintage interior and electronics which we replaced @ approx 3500. Looks to be about comparable to condition of the one you are looking at. Good luck with it.
 
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Apr 22, 2011
865
Hunter 27 Pecan Grove, Oriental, NC
We never had any blisters in the 3 years that we owned it. It had been epoxy coated by the PO but no mention by him of blisters. There was a slight separation between the keel and keel stub on our last haul out. No leaking water at the separation or rust stains. Dry bilge. The yard applied some West Systems G-flex as a cosmetic fix. I noticed in the Yachtworld ad that they claimed that the sails were "good". Good usually means tired but usable. The other listed features of boat are impressive. I got the feeling that it is well fitted out for cruising and live aboard. Checking it out, if nothing else, would be a great excuse to go to Isla.
 

Apex

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Jun 19, 2013
1,197
C&C 30 Elk Rapids
condition of the maryland boat and better price.....hmmm
 
May 5, 2017
30
Catalina C36 mkII PA
What about the Westerbeke engine? There was a Universal 25XP on my Catalina. Loved that engine as most parts were coming from Cubota 950 at great discount prices.
 
Oct 7, 2008
378
Oday Oday 35 Chesapeake Bay
I've owned an Oday 35 for 12 years. Love this boat. I've posted on the Oday larger boats about the things that I have done to the boat over the years. There are several other 35 owners that have even more information posted as well. These boats are a great value as far as I'm concerned. Very strong and sea worthy. I would say it is a great buy at that price.
 
Jan 28, 2017
26
O'Day 34 Suttons Bay
I’m a relatively new owner of an ‘84 34 but am enjoying it immensely. Freshwater with winter haul out so can’t speak to prolonged hull exposure. Only issue I’ve found is inaccessible rudder post to install belowdecks AP drive (encased in fiberglass down to the radial drive). Still trying to decide if I can remove a few inches to install a tiller arm. I know a wheel pilot is adequate but I like the safety of a 2nd steering option if the cables fail.
Oh, and check for the ammeter at the control panel - it’s a fire hazard. See this link if you haven’t already https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/universal-engines-wiring-harnes-upgrade.135558/
Fair winds!
 
May 17, 2004
5,028
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
Does the 34-35' have the same keel issues as the 322 in this story?
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/dont-see-that-happen-every-day.195287/
All of the reports I've read on the 302 and 322 issues limit the layup problems to those gray hull models, and not the earlier 2 digit models. The 302 and 322 were built after the company was bought out a time or two and that seemed to lead to the quality issues. Never saw systemic reports of keel joint or sump issues in the pre-buyout boats.
 
Nov 23, 2010
4
O'Day 35 379 Northport Yacht Club
My O'Day 35 is a 1986 model that was built in Taunton MA. The fit and finish of these boats is far superior to those built in Florida after the company was sold. For one thing, my keel is lead, not iron. My fixed ports are faded a bit but I do not want to replace them because they have never leaked in 34 years! My through hulls are bronze, not plastic and the wiring is notably better executed. Hull to deack joint is superior and has never leaked. I could go on and on but if you are looking at one of these boats, make sure that it is a Massachusetts build.
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,992
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
It is my opinion when looking at a boat 30 plus years, you need to worry more about the boat's structural condition than the brand quirks previous owners will have experienced. At the price you are considering, an independent survey would seem a minimum expense to spend. This sounds difficult to accomplish in the islands under the current global issues we are facing.

What to inspect? Everything that keeps water out side the boat and makes the boat go.
  1. the hull for soundness,
  2. all of the fixtures that make holes through the hull,
  3. the deck for it's connection to the hull,
  4. the deck for soundness,
  5. all of the standing rigging holding up the mast, t
  6. he mast and all of the things attached to it,
  7. all of the things attached to the deck,
  8. the function of all of the boat's systems.
Once you have guessed at the age and function of all these things, make a list of what concerns your safety, and the cost to repair/replace those issues. Compare these to the cost of the boat. It should help you decide if the price of the boat is worth your buying it.

Oh and new sails are a given. Figure about 6 boat bucks for a new Main and Jib. Another 2.6 boat bucks for an asymmetrical for use in the trades.