Boats, Boats, Everywhere .....
Hi Jeff, You are choosing between two good boat, and they both have good and not so good points. I had a 1984 Catalina 25 swing keel, tall rig, and now sail a 1985 O'Day 26. First, I'll discuss the Catalina: 1. Frank Butler overbuilt the boat, it is a tank. The fiberglass hull is much thicker than the O'Day hulls, you can not flex them at all anywhere on the sides. 2. The electrical system is fuses and plastic lights, the electrical panel is located at the back of the galley, not easily accessable. 3. The swing keel weighs #1500, so you MUST maintain the keel cable and winch on an annual basis. If this cable breaks, you will have trunk leaks. 4. The model year 1984 and later, have many improvements that make the boat saver, stronger bow stem fitting, beefed up transom, SS spreader brackets. 5. The tall rig mast is 4 feet taller, with the boom riding a foot lower than the standard rig, making a better light air boat. Here are some points about the O'Day 26: 1. O'Day used better electrical components, circuit breakers, metal lights. 2. The molded in stub keel where the centerboard retracks completly into, you have the ability to beach the boat. With the centerboard, you are only working with about #50, you also have the ability to keep the boat up for faster sailing. 3. More interior volume, the Catalina has a complete liner causing you to lose 6" on each side of the cabin, the stove rotates up out of the way when not being used. 4. The hull on the O'Day is thinner, you can depress the sides a small amount. Over all I was pleased with both boats. I lost the Catalina to an accident in the Gulf of Mexico, while I tried to replace it with another Catalina 25, none were found that were in decent condition. We choose the O'Day because it was the best available at the time, and have not regretted the decision one bit. If you have any other questions, contact me at benallen1@mindspring.com Ben Allen Montgomery, AL "Latte Dah" O'Day 26
