removehtml]I am trying to choose between 2 boats I am considering. A 1985 Hunter 23 or 1977 Oday 25. Here are priorities in order of importance, considering that I have read many posts about sailing characteristics and believe I would be happy with either in that regard. 1.Construction quality. 2.Ease of trailering and set-up. 3.Interior accommodationsError: Error: expected [/URL], but found [/removehtml] instead[/removehtml]
85' Hunter 23 or 77' Oday 25
- Thread starter chuckbaly
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What kind of keel
What sort of keel do they both have? The hunter can be had with both centerboard/shoal and winged shoal, the oday i have no idea. I like my 23
What sort of keel do they both have? The hunter can be had with both centerboard/shoal and winged shoal, the oday i have no idea. I like my 23
fwiw
Construction quality? probably a toss up. You will find that both boats were engineered and constructed as "value" boats, so don't expect too much. You are buying a used Chevy, not a Lexus (or even a Buick). The condition of a boat that old is more determined by the level of ongoing maintenance it has received than the initial construction "quality". If this is your main criteria, buy the boat that is in better shape now, not what was "better" when originally constructed. Ease of trailering: I am unfamiliar with the Hunter model, but I know the Oday 25 is a beast to tow. You need a full size pick up with really good brakes to do more than a local trip. I think the minimum practical trailering weight is around 3500 lbs (not including the trailer). That is one heavy boat to tow around. On the other hand, many people tow that much all the time with no problems. And IMHO the keel/centerboard combination is the best compromise available between trailerability and sailability. Much better sailer than a swing keel or water ballast boat. Interior accomodations: again, neither of these boats are good for more than a weekend for two adults and two small children. "Sleeps 5"? It is to laugh. Buy the boat that is in better shape. However, there is one feature that the Oday has that I am pretty sure is not on the Hunter: the head is behind a real door. Do not, I repeat, do not underestimate the value of this feature to the Admiral. Before I bought my Oday 23 (that has the same privacy feature), I had a Catalina 22. The porta pottie was in the main cabin under the v berth. I cannot tell you the number of times I had female guests on board who refused to ask to use the head (and I could tell they wanted to)after I had explained beforehand that I would have to close up the companionway hatch boards for anyone who wanted to use the head in privacy. No, they suffered in silence rather than go thru those gyrations. A curtain for privacy? Well, that might cut it in your family, but not for my Admiral. To her, that one feature alone makes a long daysail tolerable. Unless your significant other is one of the few that doesn't think a private place to pee is all that important, give the Oday some real points in this category.
Construction quality? probably a toss up. You will find that both boats were engineered and constructed as "value" boats, so don't expect too much. You are buying a used Chevy, not a Lexus (or even a Buick). The condition of a boat that old is more determined by the level of ongoing maintenance it has received than the initial construction "quality". If this is your main criteria, buy the boat that is in better shape now, not what was "better" when originally constructed. Ease of trailering: I am unfamiliar with the Hunter model, but I know the Oday 25 is a beast to tow. You need a full size pick up with really good brakes to do more than a local trip. I think the minimum practical trailering weight is around 3500 lbs (not including the trailer). That is one heavy boat to tow around. On the other hand, many people tow that much all the time with no problems. And IMHO the keel/centerboard combination is the best compromise available between trailerability and sailability. Much better sailer than a swing keel or water ballast boat. Interior accomodations: again, neither of these boats are good for more than a weekend for two adults and two small children. "Sleeps 5"? It is to laugh. Buy the boat that is in better shape. However, there is one feature that the Oday has that I am pretty sure is not on the Hunter: the head is behind a real door. Do not, I repeat, do not underestimate the value of this feature to the Admiral. Before I bought my Oday 23 (that has the same privacy feature), I had a Catalina 22. The porta pottie was in the main cabin under the v berth. I cannot tell you the number of times I had female guests on board who refused to ask to use the head (and I could tell they wanted to)after I had explained beforehand that I would have to close up the companionway hatch boards for anyone who wanted to use the head in privacy. No, they suffered in silence rather than go thru those gyrations. A curtain for privacy? Well, that might cut it in your family, but not for my Admiral. To her, that one feature alone makes a long daysail tolerable. Unless your significant other is one of the few that doesn't think a private place to pee is all that important, give the Oday some real points in this category.
Hunter 23
I had a 85 Hunter 23 with the wing keel, it trailored easily, the 2 1/2 foot draft let me get into a lot of shallow areas. The flip up rudder hung at 3 feet when it popped up I had time to turn out of trouble before hitting the bottom. It sailed easily, and I spent many nights on it. I also liked the fold up companionway hatch which let me 6'4'" stand in the cabin and stretch out when doing some thing like cooking. I had a 9.9 evenrude on it and it motored well. I did not have roller furling on it, but I added a down haul for the jib, so I could douse the sail with out leaving the safety of the cockpit if the weather got bad. If I had to do it again I'de get another one.
I had a 85 Hunter 23 with the wing keel, it trailored easily, the 2 1/2 foot draft let me get into a lot of shallow areas. The flip up rudder hung at 3 feet when it popped up I had time to turn out of trouble before hitting the bottom. It sailed easily, and I spent many nights on it. I also liked the fold up companionway hatch which let me 6'4'" stand in the cabin and stretch out when doing some thing like cooking. I had a 9.9 evenrude on it and it motored well. I did not have roller furling on it, but I added a down haul for the jib, so I could douse the sail with out leaving the safety of the cockpit if the weather got bad. If I had to do it again I'de get another one.
"Much better sailer than a swing keel or water ballast boat...."
Then why do I fly by, and outpoint, many of them them in light and heavy airs in my water ballast boat? Granted I have never been out in more than 5-7 foot waves...and that only a few times. Yet from what I have seen most in a 26 foot or less boat, including myself usually, would be at the dock in that type of weather. I can see them being better sailers; but, esp. for their niche, not MUCH better! (added edit...) actually, the more i think about it...swing keels/centerboards have advantages that can make them better sailers. I xcan adjust my swing centerboard as I change my point of sail from close-hauled to beam reach to a run. I am less likely to get stuck; and can sail right up to the beach and hop off for the post race whiskey/campfire/many of the heavy fixed keel boats defeat party!!!
Then why do I fly by, and outpoint, many of them them in light and heavy airs in my water ballast boat? Granted I have never been out in more than 5-7 foot waves...and that only a few times. Yet from what I have seen most in a 26 foot or less boat, including myself usually, would be at the dock in that type of weather. I can see them being better sailers; but, esp. for their niche, not MUCH better! (added edit...) actually, the more i think about it...swing keels/centerboards have advantages that can make them better sailers. I xcan adjust my swing centerboard as I change my point of sail from close-hauled to beam reach to a run. I am less likely to get stuck; and can sail right up to the beach and hop off for the post race whiskey/campfire/many of the heavy fixed keel boats defeat party!!!
I don't always go flying by them...
obviously... I didn't mean to be critical of keel boats in my last post (i guess I kinda did; but I want to rescind that part of my post. I kinda knee jerked (surprise, surprise...)to the statement that was very critical to water ballast boats. From my experience...they are pretty close; esp. with an able sailor at the tiller and ropes. Every boat has it niche and forte (sp?)...but, when all is said and done...we are all sailors! Right? I know that with my salary and remaining student loans I could not have done all the sailing I have without the mac 26s...and I have done ALOT!!! Gulf Coast of Fla. (liked it even better than the keys)is my favorite...esp. the sweet anchorage/sailing around Pensacola. Nothing like sipping coffee on the bow in the a.m. with the blue angels above...sailing around and then down west to some "pirate" bar with kick a$$ drinks and cheesburgers, then sailing to, and walking down "your" own private beach for the sunset and female snuggling! Whether with water ballast or no water ballast seems insignificant to me (and my girlfriend (one pro of the macs...is [most] chicks don't know how relatively inexpensive it is...so you can be the pseudofiscal studmuffin!) Fair winds! As long as your feelin em on a sailboat!
obviously... I didn't mean to be critical of keel boats in my last post (i guess I kinda did; but I want to rescind that part of my post. I kinda knee jerked (surprise, surprise...)to the statement that was very critical to water ballast boats. From my experience...they are pretty close; esp. with an able sailor at the tiller and ropes. Every boat has it niche and forte (sp?)...but, when all is said and done...we are all sailors! Right? I know that with my salary and remaining student loans I could not have done all the sailing I have without the mac 26s...and I have done ALOT!!! Gulf Coast of Fla. (liked it even better than the keys)is my favorite...esp. the sweet anchorage/sailing around Pensacola. Nothing like sipping coffee on the bow in the a.m. with the blue angels above...sailing around and then down west to some "pirate" bar with kick a$$ drinks and cheesburgers, then sailing to, and walking down "your" own private beach for the sunset and female snuggling! Whether with water ballast or no water ballast seems insignificant to me (and my girlfriend (one pro of the macs...is [most] chicks don't know how relatively inexpensive it is...so you can be the pseudofiscal studmuffin!) Fair winds! As long as your feelin em on a sailboat!
Not really critical
Bio: let me start off by agreeing with you completely about how the most important thing is to enjoy sailing, and that the skill of the sailor is probably the most important element in defining boat speed. However, if you read my original post, I wasn't blasting water ballast boats; I was only comparing them relatively to keel/centerboard boats. I think the keel/centerboard combination is "better" because they carry their ballast lower than water ballasted boats, and therefore (all other things being equal) can sail with less heel and closer to the wind. I will grant you that your water ballasted boat may blow by me in a race if you are a superior sailer. In any case, you sound like you have the cruising thing down. Wish I could sail all winter like you!
Bio: let me start off by agreeing with you completely about how the most important thing is to enjoy sailing, and that the skill of the sailor is probably the most important element in defining boat speed. However, if you read my original post, I wasn't blasting water ballast boats; I was only comparing them relatively to keel/centerboard boats. I think the keel/centerboard combination is "better" because they carry their ballast lower than water ballasted boats, and therefore (all other things being equal) can sail with less heel and closer to the wind. I will grant you that your water ballasted boat may blow by me in a race if you are a superior sailer. In any case, you sound like you have the cruising thing down. Wish I could sail all winter like you!
Fair enough mike...
It does make sense that having your ballast lower would have to help in performance...I guess I was just questioning how much. I do okay cruising. My jobs alows ample time for cruising; in winter though, I have to pull her down from the icy valleys of appalachia. Maybe that helps to make it seem so special. I have "armchair" dreams of being a voyaging vagabond though...pulling (as much as possible of)my food from the sea and exploring with (relatively)complete temporal and fiscal freedom. From what I have read...coupled with a numerous minor experiences...a few haul a$$ to the dock (one time I had to beach her in a protected cove going downwind and I had my first broach experience...tucked my tail right quick after that! One heave to, and one pull all the sail down and double reef the main (and I still had to let it out alot periodically to prevent too much heeling, waves semed too big for a broad reach) it was early in my sailing...probably could have handled it better..but we made it back safe and I garnered a HUGE respect for the power of weather. Other's dreams have ventured to nightmares...from what I have read...guess you gotta know what your getting into, prepare for the worst and hope for the best... What a great sport though...relaxation, excitement, competition, exploration, adventure, partying and sailing comraderi; and learning (physics, geography, "oceanography", etc.) for a lifetime!
It does make sense that having your ballast lower would have to help in performance...I guess I was just questioning how much. I do okay cruising. My jobs alows ample time for cruising; in winter though, I have to pull her down from the icy valleys of appalachia. Maybe that helps to make it seem so special. I have "armchair" dreams of being a voyaging vagabond though...pulling (as much as possible of)my food from the sea and exploring with (relatively)complete temporal and fiscal freedom. From what I have read...coupled with a numerous minor experiences...a few haul a$$ to the dock (one time I had to beach her in a protected cove going downwind and I had my first broach experience...tucked my tail right quick after that! One heave to, and one pull all the sail down and double reef the main (and I still had to let it out alot periodically to prevent too much heeling, waves semed too big for a broad reach) it was early in my sailing...probably could have handled it better..but we made it back safe and I garnered a HUGE respect for the power of weather. Other's dreams have ventured to nightmares...from what I have read...guess you gotta know what your getting into, prepare for the worst and hope for the best... What a great sport though...relaxation, excitement, competition, exploration, adventure, partying and sailing comraderi; and learning (physics, geography, "oceanography", etc.) for a lifetime!
Speaking for myself
trailerability is a pretty broad interpretation for any boat this size. I own the O'day 23. Can I trailer it? Yes! I do twice a year. A better consderation would be the ease and time that is required to rig and launch. My previous boat was an 18' inland scow. I trailered it. It required 45 min. to rig, launch and a be underway. The best I've acheived with the 23' (not being in hurry) is 2 hours. I suppose if I dry sailed, I could get down to 20 min. With stepping the mast, attaching the boom, sails, running rigging, outboard, rudder..........., I might be able to perfect the routine and do it in less than an hour and a half. Then reverse the process when finished sailing. I'd consider it for an extended trip but not everytime I wanted to sail. I think the 25 weighs in at about 5000 lb. The 23' is slightly more than 3000 lb. without gear. I pull it with a full size pickup. Does alright, but I sure know it's behind me. If trailerability is a key factor I'd consider one of the swing keel boats (Hunter, Catalina). They generally ride lower on a trailer and can be launched with less depth at the ramp. I use a 12' tongue extension to launch. Usually the rear wheels are in the water. Something to think about. Hope this helps!
trailerability is a pretty broad interpretation for any boat this size. I own the O'day 23. Can I trailer it? Yes! I do twice a year. A better consderation would be the ease and time that is required to rig and launch. My previous boat was an 18' inland scow. I trailered it. It required 45 min. to rig, launch and a be underway. The best I've acheived with the 23' (not being in hurry) is 2 hours. I suppose if I dry sailed, I could get down to 20 min. With stepping the mast, attaching the boom, sails, running rigging, outboard, rudder..........., I might be able to perfect the routine and do it in less than an hour and a half. Then reverse the process when finished sailing. I'd consider it for an extended trip but not everytime I wanted to sail. I think the 25 weighs in at about 5000 lb. The 23' is slightly more than 3000 lb. without gear. I pull it with a full size pickup. Does alright, but I sure know it's behind me. If trailerability is a key factor I'd consider one of the swing keel boats (Hunter, Catalina). They generally ride lower on a trailer and can be launched with less depth at the ramp. I use a 12' tongue extension to launch. Usually the rear wheels are in the water. Something to think about. Hope this helps!
Takes me about 30 to rig, 25 to de-rig...
being organizedly purposeful but not hasty...took almost a year to get it down; includes a short checklist walk around for both rig and de-rigging(learned that the hard way...dragged the rudder (due to haste) post sail a couple of times). Usually got some music jammin...I kinda like it in a weird sorta tai chi way. It's a mac 26s...don't know how different it is than other boats?
being organizedly purposeful but not hasty...took almost a year to get it down; includes a short checklist walk around for both rig and de-rigging(learned that the hard way...dragged the rudder (due to haste) post sail a couple of times). Usually got some music jammin...I kinda like it in a weird sorta tai chi way. It's a mac 26s...don't know how different it is than other boats?
I gotta chime in now...
I own a 1979 Oday 25, keep her on a trailer. Luckily, we now keep her at a marina with the mast up. Can be hooked up and in the water in 10 minutes. Prior to moving to the marina, we kept her dry stored with the mast down. We had to raise the mast every time we went for a sail. It got to be too much of a hassle, even though we had it down to a science and could be in the water in about 40 minutes once we got to the ramp. I really like the Oday, but, I am biased. She is super sturdy in the water, points well and the accommodations fit my family well. We have sailed and been comfortable for a week at a time. I must say, we are tent campers too. So, we don't need an air conditioned camper to sleep well. I have been on Soling42's boat, it is very nice. It is very fast, and I have been jealous as to how close he can get to the beach with his pop up rudder. It is very nice. His boat is faster than mine too. That being said, he is a better sailor than me too. Realistically, if you are truly choosing between the two, either are good. You will be happy with either choice. But, depending on what you are trailering with, having the dumpable ballast is very nice. The Oday has 2000 pounds of lead in her belly, and your gas gauge knows when you are pulling her.
I own a 1979 Oday 25, keep her on a trailer. Luckily, we now keep her at a marina with the mast up. Can be hooked up and in the water in 10 minutes. Prior to moving to the marina, we kept her dry stored with the mast down. We had to raise the mast every time we went for a sail. It got to be too much of a hassle, even though we had it down to a science and could be in the water in about 40 minutes once we got to the ramp. I really like the Oday, but, I am biased. She is super sturdy in the water, points well and the accommodations fit my family well. We have sailed and been comfortable for a week at a time. I must say, we are tent campers too. So, we don't need an air conditioned camper to sleep well. I have been on Soling42's boat, it is very nice. It is very fast, and I have been jealous as to how close he can get to the beach with his pop up rudder. It is very nice. His boat is faster than mine too. That being said, he is a better sailor than me too. Realistically, if you are truly choosing between the two, either are good. You will be happy with either choice. But, depending on what you are trailering with, having the dumpable ballast is very nice. The Oday has 2000 pounds of lead in her belly, and your gas gauge knows when you are pulling her.
I always need more practice
Ross, I consider you as the guy who'll live far longer than me because, enviably, you are a relaxed sailor while I can't help but constantly fuss over trim on my floating RV. What a fruitless effort as I "SPEED" along at a relative snails pace in the slowst vehicle I've ever owned. I'm really NOT a very good sailor, just a nut case who, like a gerbel on a wheel, frets over 10ths of kt
. Stout is a great way to describe an Oday which is why they last so well. Todays boats are laid up far less heavily and I have no doubt that todays lt wt designs will not be as durable in the long haul. The upside to light wt is that every puff will push a lighter boat of similar displacement, sailed upright, just a little further ahead(that and motoring when the other guy can't see). Hey, how about a half day sail tomorrow sometime aft 1. Should be too nice to be working. Lets give my old sea sled a spin. Lead keel or no, she's ready to go so let me know. Michael Lola the Oday 25 doing her thing under capt Ross' command escorted by Flipper
Ross, I consider you as the guy who'll live far longer than me because, enviably, you are a relaxed sailor while I can't help but constantly fuss over trim on my floating RV. What a fruitless effort as I "SPEED" along at a relative snails pace in the slowst vehicle I've ever owned. I'm really NOT a very good sailor, just a nut case who, like a gerbel on a wheel, frets over 10ths of kt
. Stout is a great way to describe an Oday which is why they last so well. Todays boats are laid up far less heavily and I have no doubt that todays lt wt designs will not be as durable in the long haul. The upside to light wt is that every puff will push a lighter boat of similar displacement, sailed upright, just a little further ahead(that and motoring when the other guy can't see). Hey, how about a half day sail tomorrow sometime aft 1. Should be too nice to be working. Lets give my old sea sled a spin. Lead keel or no, she's ready to go so let me know. Michael Lola the Oday 25 doing her thing under capt Ross' command escorted by FlipperAttachments
Gotta Go With Mike
While I've always liked the Hunter's layouts (almost bought a H33 last year), I have to agree with mike- The grief I don't get from the Admiral (thanks to the head being behind a door) makes me appreciate my O'day. We tend to combine saling with adult beverages when puttering around Tampa Bay, which makes the restroom the most important room on board. IMHO. TimCup
While I've always liked the Hunter's layouts (almost bought a H33 last year), I have to agree with mike- The grief I don't get from the Admiral (thanks to the head being behind a door) makes me appreciate my O'day. We tend to combine saling with adult beverages when puttering around Tampa Bay, which makes the restroom the most important room on board. IMHO. TimCup
My experience
I was seriously considering buying a hunter 23. The biggest reason was that there are tons of them on the market with a trailer for the price of a trailer. They have a fairly tall mast, so dry-sailing one might take some practice. I ended up buying a Lancer 25 off ebay for $1000 that was listed by a sailing school I rented boats from at the time. My boat is a "maxi-trailerable" in that it has a broad flat stub keel...I swear that it could sit on the hard without stands. Pluses of the larger 25 foot boat? Much more stable, which is a confidence builder for you and your crew. My Wife isn't a big sailer. Much better accomodations with private area for the porta potti, a two burner alcohol stove, a sink, water tank, sleeps 2-4, with some nice wood in her interior. She is on a mooring so I can leave work and be sailing as fast as I can drive their and take the launch out to her. That means I can sail any evening rather than contemplate 1-2 hours of rigging and a similar amount of derigging. That would pretty much limit me to weekends. And my Wife isn't a big fan of sailing unless we are entertaining. Minuses? While I really want a trailer to save on winter storage ($1500/season is my biggest expense) I really wouldn't want to dry sail her. I dropped the mast on the water with the help of an A-frame I built and a friend and it was no picnic. Her mast is 32 feet. However, a mooring is pretty cheap, even in the Boston area it costs me about $600 a year for excise, waterway fees to the town and mooring maintenance. There was an initial cost of about $700 for the mooring plus you may need a dinghy to get to your boat. The best advice I can give you is to buy what you need to do what you will do 80% of the time. For me? I don't often overnight. I usually sail alone or with one other person. I don't have a lot of free time. I probably would have given up on sailing if I was attempting to dry sail a 25 footer...just because I sail solo so much and it would be tough...not impossible...people have figured it out...electric winches...etc..to do so. So my opinion is...if you are going to dry sail...stick to a boat you can rig quickly. The nice thing about the O'day 25 is that their masts are fairly short, but I think I'd stick to something 23 feet or under myself. By the way...where are you sailing? I am sailing in Boston Harbor and that is something to consider as well. Not too many 23 footers out there. If you are concerned about build quality you are leaving a few very good boats off your list. Ericson built both a 23 and 25 with swing keels. Chrysler buit a 22 that is very roomy...I used to sail on a Chrysler 26...thing was built like a tank! Even the Catalina 22 is worth a look. I like the older Hunter 22 as well, with a swing keel (easier to launch), but they tend to be harder to find. Good luck! Bob
I was seriously considering buying a hunter 23. The biggest reason was that there are tons of them on the market with a trailer for the price of a trailer. They have a fairly tall mast, so dry-sailing one might take some practice. I ended up buying a Lancer 25 off ebay for $1000 that was listed by a sailing school I rented boats from at the time. My boat is a "maxi-trailerable" in that it has a broad flat stub keel...I swear that it could sit on the hard without stands. Pluses of the larger 25 foot boat? Much more stable, which is a confidence builder for you and your crew. My Wife isn't a big sailer. Much better accomodations with private area for the porta potti, a two burner alcohol stove, a sink, water tank, sleeps 2-4, with some nice wood in her interior. She is on a mooring so I can leave work and be sailing as fast as I can drive their and take the launch out to her. That means I can sail any evening rather than contemplate 1-2 hours of rigging and a similar amount of derigging. That would pretty much limit me to weekends. And my Wife isn't a big fan of sailing unless we are entertaining. Minuses? While I really want a trailer to save on winter storage ($1500/season is my biggest expense) I really wouldn't want to dry sail her. I dropped the mast on the water with the help of an A-frame I built and a friend and it was no picnic. Her mast is 32 feet. However, a mooring is pretty cheap, even in the Boston area it costs me about $600 a year for excise, waterway fees to the town and mooring maintenance. There was an initial cost of about $700 for the mooring plus you may need a dinghy to get to your boat. The best advice I can give you is to buy what you need to do what you will do 80% of the time. For me? I don't often overnight. I usually sail alone or with one other person. I don't have a lot of free time. I probably would have given up on sailing if I was attempting to dry sail a 25 footer...just because I sail solo so much and it would be tough...not impossible...people have figured it out...electric winches...etc..to do so. So my opinion is...if you are going to dry sail...stick to a boat you can rig quickly. The nice thing about the O'day 25 is that their masts are fairly short, but I think I'd stick to something 23 feet or under myself. By the way...where are you sailing? I am sailing in Boston Harbor and that is something to consider as well. Not too many 23 footers out there. If you are concerned about build quality you are leaving a few very good boats off your list. Ericson built both a 23 and 25 with swing keels. Chrysler buit a 22 that is very roomy...I used to sail on a Chrysler 26...thing was built like a tank! Even the Catalina 22 is worth a look. I like the older Hunter 22 as well, with a swing keel (easier to launch), but they tend to be harder to find. Good luck! Bob
I've done the H26 WB, C22,C25, C250 & Mac 26.
First of all, we dry sail all our boats. I have my boat fully rigged and launch her every time. It takes 10 min. We sail 4 times a week. This saves a ton on dock fees. It has taken as much as 1 hour to raise the mast and rig the H26 to 45 min on the C22 & C25. The Mac 26 was 30 min. We started sailing with a '95 Hunter 26 water ballast. With the Hunter dual axle trailer and my Ford 1/2 ton PU she towed like a dream and we towed alot. About 4500 to 5000# boat & trailer. Ours had a beautiful interior with a queen berth aft, a very nice galley and owner installed marine head with 20 gal holding tank. Best headroom of the bunch. They are a little light but after you learn how to sail one it keeps up to, or will beat, anything in her size range. They sleep 2 beautifully even with 2 kids. They are expensive compared to the rest. I currently sail a C22 set up in the extreme and she is the most fun I've had. Small interior, smaller galley, porto-potty but huge cockpit. Tows nice at about 3400# boat & trailer and launches no sweat with swing keel. I LOVE this boat. The C25 is bigger with slightly more headroom, interior and can have a real head with little work. Swing keel is the only type that works for our type of sailing. Slower then the C22. Heavier to tow and requires the largest tow truck of all the boats. Not my kind of boat. The C250 is a water ballast and quite the same as the H26 but slightly smaller. Nice boat, easly towed, harder to find and slightly cheaper than the H26. Don't back away from one of these if it is sound, clean and in your range. The Mac 26 WB and not the 26X(which to me is good practice for Navy Tomcats) is a fast boat, tender like all WB's, somewhat cheaply built and cramped compaired to the H26 & C250. Tows easly and to my suprise very easy to raise the mast on by yourself. The reason for this is that the stick is much lighter in size and strength compared to all the boats in this size range. Rudders were prone to failure but they probably corrected when you buy a replacement. To my understanding the M26 carries 800# of water for ballast compaired to the 2000# of the Hunter which helps explain their speed. Just my ramblings but maybe it helps. I know nothing about the O'Days. The Chryslers would be less of a mystery if my unknown friend that sails his Crysler 22 on the huge wind days I love would get close enough to yell at. Some day we shall meet, but that would ruin the contest we have over ever increasing scarves. Ray
First of all, we dry sail all our boats. I have my boat fully rigged and launch her every time. It takes 10 min. We sail 4 times a week. This saves a ton on dock fees. It has taken as much as 1 hour to raise the mast and rig the H26 to 45 min on the C22 & C25. The Mac 26 was 30 min. We started sailing with a '95 Hunter 26 water ballast. With the Hunter dual axle trailer and my Ford 1/2 ton PU she towed like a dream and we towed alot. About 4500 to 5000# boat & trailer. Ours had a beautiful interior with a queen berth aft, a very nice galley and owner installed marine head with 20 gal holding tank. Best headroom of the bunch. They are a little light but after you learn how to sail one it keeps up to, or will beat, anything in her size range. They sleep 2 beautifully even with 2 kids. They are expensive compared to the rest. I currently sail a C22 set up in the extreme and she is the most fun I've had. Small interior, smaller galley, porto-potty but huge cockpit. Tows nice at about 3400# boat & trailer and launches no sweat with swing keel. I LOVE this boat. The C25 is bigger with slightly more headroom, interior and can have a real head with little work. Swing keel is the only type that works for our type of sailing. Slower then the C22. Heavier to tow and requires the largest tow truck of all the boats. Not my kind of boat. The C250 is a water ballast and quite the same as the H26 but slightly smaller. Nice boat, easly towed, harder to find and slightly cheaper than the H26. Don't back away from one of these if it is sound, clean and in your range. The Mac 26 WB and not the 26X(which to me is good practice for Navy Tomcats) is a fast boat, tender like all WB's, somewhat cheaply built and cramped compaired to the H26 & C250. Tows easly and to my suprise very easy to raise the mast on by yourself. The reason for this is that the stick is much lighter in size and strength compared to all the boats in this size range. Rudders were prone to failure but they probably corrected when you buy a replacement. To my understanding the M26 carries 800# of water for ballast compaired to the 2000# of the Hunter which helps explain their speed. Just my ramblings but maybe it helps. I know nothing about the O'Days. The Chryslers would be less of a mystery if my unknown friend that sails his Crysler 22 on the huge wind days I love would get close enough to yell at. Some day we shall meet, but that would ruin the contest we have over ever increasing scarves. Ray
My two cents..
When I switched from a small Precision to the Hunter 23.5 I was concerned about trailering a bigger heavier boat, but found that the Hunter WB boats are designed for trailering. This actually reduced my ramp set-up time from my smaller Precision 165. I don't know if its the same boat, but I used to sail with a fellow named Bill who had a 79 Oday 25 named Lulu, not Lola?? He lived near Orlando and sailed both the east and west coasts of Florida.. Is that your boat Ross?? Anyway, since its only my wife and I sailing the Hunter 23.5 I closed off the V-berth area/head with a removeable wall sections to provide "head privacy" while we are cruising, and I remove them while daysailing. I also converted the salon area to a queen bed for sleeping under the moonroof, while having access to the head. The aft bunk is too claustrophobic for us. We use that for storage. I agree to go with the best condition boat that meets your needs. When I was looking for my boat, I figured each subsection at $2000. Hull, sails, motor and trailer. This means a good boat, motor trailer and sails should be around 8k, then subtract 2k for each subsystem its missing or needs replacing. I like the Hunter 23 a little better, only because its lighter and a little easier to trailer. They both sail well enough, and both will get stuck in 2 feet of water. One time I ran my Precision aground in Tampa bay, and Bill on his Oday 25 ran aground behind me. Took both of us about a half hour to get off the shoal. Good luck.
When I switched from a small Precision to the Hunter 23.5 I was concerned about trailering a bigger heavier boat, but found that the Hunter WB boats are designed for trailering. This actually reduced my ramp set-up time from my smaller Precision 165. I don't know if its the same boat, but I used to sail with a fellow named Bill who had a 79 Oday 25 named Lulu, not Lola?? He lived near Orlando and sailed both the east and west coasts of Florida.. Is that your boat Ross?? Anyway, since its only my wife and I sailing the Hunter 23.5 I closed off the V-berth area/head with a removeable wall sections to provide "head privacy" while we are cruising, and I remove them while daysailing. I also converted the salon area to a queen bed for sleeping under the moonroof, while having access to the head. The aft bunk is too claustrophobic for us. We use that for storage. I agree to go with the best condition boat that meets your needs. When I was looking for my boat, I figured each subsection at $2000. Hull, sails, motor and trailer. This means a good boat, motor trailer and sails should be around 8k, then subtract 2k for each subsystem its missing or needs replacing. I like the Hunter 23 a little better, only because its lighter and a little easier to trailer. They both sail well enough, and both will get stuck in 2 feet of water. One time I ran my Precision aground in Tampa bay, and Bill on his Oday 25 ran aground behind me. Took both of us about a half hour to get off the shoal. Good luck.
Not the same boat...
We bought Lola from a gentlemen in Tarpon Springs, he bought her from a guy that kept her in the water in Redington Beach and never took care of her. The guy I bought it from had to scrape an oyster bed off the boat bottom, it was a mess. There are still a few barnacle feet on the boat that I have yet to finish scraping. So many projects... Lola is name that my wife likes. From the song Copacabana... she was a show girl...blah blah blah. The name fits, we are still looking for some yellow feathers for the masthead.
We bought Lola from a gentlemen in Tarpon Springs, he bought her from a guy that kept her in the water in Redington Beach and never took care of her. The guy I bought it from had to scrape an oyster bed off the boat bottom, it was a mess. There are still a few barnacle feet on the boat that I have yet to finish scraping. So many projects... Lola is name that my wife likes. From the song Copacabana... she was a show girl...blah blah blah. The name fits, we are still looking for some yellow feathers for the masthead.
Will you fit the cabin well?
Rays' experience speaks volumes. Great objective analysis. Jack raises a good point about changing the floor plan to suit your needs. If you'll be doing more than a night or two on-board I'd make sure I had the layout just right and preferably had some head room to stand up without slouching. It's expecting a lot in a trailer boat but at 6-'1" our 260 is about 2" shorter than I need. We enjoy extended sailing when possible and after some of our longer cruises I find myself avoiding going below unless I'm sitting/sleeping. On the other hand another couple with our same boat just completed a 9mth 5200mi cruise where they only stayed ashore 1 night. The equalizer was that he is about 5'8" and had full standing room in the 260 where I'd be a Quasimodo and equally cranky after a few days of bad weather. I think Ross' Oday had a good amount of head room. So if it's just for daysailing and you really want women to go with you on a regular basis I'd still go for an enclosed head but don't worry too much about how tall the cabin is. Alright Ross, now I'll be humming that cross dresser song all day. Lola...it does sorta have a catchy little rhythm. Lo-lo-lo-lo loooo-la. OMG.... I gotta change the station. Michael
Rays' experience speaks volumes. Great objective analysis. Jack raises a good point about changing the floor plan to suit your needs. If you'll be doing more than a night or two on-board I'd make sure I had the layout just right and preferably had some head room to stand up without slouching. It's expecting a lot in a trailer boat but at 6-'1" our 260 is about 2" shorter than I need. We enjoy extended sailing when possible and after some of our longer cruises I find myself avoiding going below unless I'm sitting/sleeping. On the other hand another couple with our same boat just completed a 9mth 5200mi cruise where they only stayed ashore 1 night. The equalizer was that he is about 5'8" and had full standing room in the 260 where I'd be a Quasimodo and equally cranky after a few days of bad weather. I think Ross' Oday had a good amount of head room. So if it's just for daysailing and you really want women to go with you on a regular basis I'd still go for an enclosed head but don't worry too much about how tall the cabin is. Alright Ross, now I'll be humming that cross dresser song all day
. Lola...it does sorta have a catchy little rhythm. Lo-lo-lo-lo loooo-la. OMG.... I gotta change the station. Michael- Status