Advice from 272 Owners

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neosoul

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Jun 14, 2013
2
Oday ??? Southold
I Need Advice from 272 Owners

Hello,
I was hoping to get some advice.
I recently sold my 83 Daysailer II and started looking for something larger for the family (3 kids). After looking for quite some time, I found an 86 O'day 272 for $4,500 w/Westerbeke Diesel Engine. The boat appears to be in overall very good shape, (needs to be cleaned) the engine started right up and the hull and topsides seem fine too. Other than the fact that the current owner painted all the wood royal blue (including the tiller), a missing cushion for the aft berth and 6 year old sails the boat appears to be in very good condition.

This is A LOT OF BOAT for someone coming from a Daysailer, so I thought I'd ask is there anything I should be aware of before I make this purchase? I noticed some water when I lifted the floorboards and looked at where the keel is bolted on, should I be concerned? Is this a deal killer? The current owner is having the bottom of the boat painted today and I'll be able to examine the keel and bottom.

The owner is willing to take $4,500 - this seems too good to be true.
I appreciate any insight you may have.
Thanks!
 
Last edited:
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Water in the bilge can come from the stuffing box (the seal around the propeller shaft) dripping which for a old traditional stuffing box should be about a drip every 30 seconds to a minute while spinning, but not dripping while stationary. So see if it is dripping while at the dock. Not a deal breaker, it may just need to be tightened.

Water can also come from leaking plumbing or water tanks, get a flashlight and inspect all over to see if any evidence of leaks in the tanks or at the water pump or any of the fitting or if there is a hot water tank check that for leaks.

Water can also come from leaking keel bolts. If the bolts are loose or if the bedding compound for the keel has failed you can get seepage from the bolts. You would need to pump it dry and use a sponge and paper towels to mop it up and dry it, then look at each bolt to see if water is seeping from it. Obviously this can only be done in the water. Once it is hauled look for signs at the keel joint for any flexing that would allow water intrusion.

Another source of water is the through hull fittings, check each one to see how it is attached and if there is any evidence of a leak.

The next place to look is for any leaks coming from the topsides, around windows, hatches, any through bolts holding hardware on the deck, stanchion bases, etc. You should see a brown streak or discoloration where there are any leaks.

Lastly, a wet bilge is common, the bilge pump will not pump it totally dry and some water pumped will flow back into the bilge because the hose has a loop in it. Unless the owner pumps it dry with a hand pump and sponges it dry and wipes it dry you will always have some water in the bilge. For a boat this old you can expect some or all of the items I mentioned. You need to get a SURVEYOR and spend the several hundred he charges to make sure you are not buying something with severe problems. This is standard procedure when buying a boat, like a home inspection when buying a house. Any boat can be fixed, just a question of time and money. Good Luck, they are great boats.
 
pgiorda

pgiorda

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Dec 27, 2009
37
Oday 272 Great South Bay
After crewing with a friend for a few years I purchased a 1987 ODay 272 as my first boat and love it. It's a good size first boat, has a head, and sleeps 5 or 6 comfortably.

My wife was only on sailboats as guest before we got this boat. I made her take the boating safety class, learn to start and stop the in-board diesel and steer in case something happened to me. In 3 months she learned to operate the boat and doesn't want to give up control of the boat. So I crew for her.

When it's not raining and the stuffing box and water holding tank are working correctly my bilge stays dry. I've never seen water come from the keel bolts.


When I occassionally get water in the bilge it comes from rain and we've gotten a lot of rain lately. Rain water sits and leaks from ports over the head and the sink due to the angle of the frame and the fact that the frame doesn't have a weep hole. Water also leaks from the forward hatch.

As jibes138 stated water can come from the stuffing box, but since the boat is not in the water this is not the case. I did have some water come from the stuffing box but this was fixed by tightening the stuffing box and then replacing the flax. Total cost less than $20 dollars and 20 minutes.

The only other source of water was a leak from the fresh water holding tank when I didn't secure the plumbing tubes at the start of the season after having the tank home for the winter.
 
N

neosoul

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Jun 14, 2013
2
Oday ??? Southold
jibes138 & pgiorda,
Thanks for all the advice!
Unfortunately the deal fell through.
There are no other 272s in my price range in my area so I am now looking for something smaller - 23 or 25 foot O'Day's. So if you know of any in Suffolk County (NY) let me know. I hope to be out on the Peconic Bay before the season is over.
Cheers!
 
31seahorse

31seahorse

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Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Hello neosoul & welcome,

Moving from a Daysailer to a 272 would have been a very reasonable move. The 272 is tender for a bit, but does sail at a lively clip. 5200# is not a heavy cruising boat by any means and the 3ft draft is ideal for us in Florida's skinny water. Nice boats.

I would not look to launch, haul, and trailer a 23ft plus boat like you did the Daysailer. (I'm sure you know that.) As mentioned in the other posts there are many systems to learn and maintain. An enclosed head with a holding tank (15 gal, or so) is very useful aboard. Standing headroom in the cabin is a big factor in boat choice too. I think I remember standing in a 25, but them at 5' 9"..........

Storage of the boat in the off season is always a consideration too. Dock or mooring? another decision. All part of the fun!

Best Wishes, Phil
 
S

Steps

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Sep 21, 2012
14
Oday 272 So Benson Marina, Fairfield CT
after reading your post, I had a few questions...

I have a '86 272. We had it for 1.5 seasons now, and have enjoyed her for the most part. I also always find some water in the bilge, even after drying it out completely. Oddly the water is always greasy and cloudy. There are no topside leaks that i have noticed, how do you tighten the stuffing box? I am reasonably handy and like the idea of $20 and 20 mins. Please provide a bit of instructions.

Thanks!


pgiorda said:
After crewing with a friend for a few years I purchased a 1987 ODay 272 as my first boat and love it. It's a good size first boat, has a head, and sleeps 5 or 6 comfortably.

My wife was only on sailboats as guest before we got this boat. I made her take the boating safety class, learn to start and stop the in-board diesel and steer in case something happened to me. In 3 months she learned to operate the boat and doesn't want to give up control of the boat. So I crew for her.

When it's not raining and the stuffing box and water holding tank are working correctly my bilge stays dry. I've never seen water come from the keel bolts.


When I occassionally get water in the bilge it comes from rain and we've gotten a lot of rain lately. Rain water sits and leaks from ports over the head and the sink due to the angle of the frame and the fact that the frame doesn't have a weep hole. Water also leaks from the forward hatch.

As jibes138 stated water can come from the stuffing box, but since the boat is not in the water this is not the case. I did have some water come from the stuffing box but this was fixed by tightening the stuffing box and then replacing the flax. Total cost less than $20 dollars and 20 minutes.

The only other source of water was a leak from the fresh water holding tank when I didn't secure the plumbing tubes at the start of the season after having the tank home for the winter.
Click to expand
 
Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,733
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
Steps said:
I have a '86 272. We had it for 1.5 seasons now, and have enjoyed her for the most part. I also always find some water in the bilge, even after drying it out completely. Oddly the water is always greasy and cloudy. There are no topside leaks that i have noticed, how do you tighten the stuffing box? I am reasonably handy and like the idea of $20 and 20 mins. Please provide a bit of instructions.

Thanks!
Click to expand
Try checking here

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/stuffing_box
 
Panta Rei

Panta Rei

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Nov 3, 2010
564
Oday 39 Lake mills WI
Steps said:
I have a '86 272. We had it for 1.5 seasons now, and have enjoyed her for the most part. I also always find some water in the bilge, even after drying it out completely. Oddly the water is always greasy and cloudy. There are no topside leaks that i have noticed, how do you tighten the stuffing box? I am reasonably handy and like the idea of $20 and 20 mins. Please provide a bit of instructions.

Thanks!
Click to expand
Stuffing boxes leak by design. The leaking water is required to keep the packing cool and somewhat lubricated.
you will find plenty of info on how to maintain it on the web.

There are drip-less seals but they cost $300 to $800 for your boat and would be more work to install than simply maintaining what you have.
 
M

Mickstr

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Jun 1, 2007
272
O'Day 322 Mt.Sinai
neosoul said:
jibes138 & pgiorda,
Thanks for all the advice!
Unfortunately the deal fell through.
There are no other 272s in my price range in my area so I am now looking for something smaller - 23 or 25 foot O'Day's. So if you know of any in Suffolk County (NY) let me know. I hope to be out on the Peconic Bay before the season is over.
Cheers!
Click to expand
Find a boat neosoul? I made the transition from Daysailor to 272 LE, and love it! I'm over in Bellport/Patchogue Bay, and the 2' 11" draft is great!
 
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