Plannig on buying a O25 later this year. I have had experience sailing a catalina 22. This is the next step for me. I would like to hear what advice you have for a first time Oday buyer. I will be sailing in harbor and gulf waters.
advice on buy O25 center board
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A nice step up
I had a similar situation going from a cat 22 to an O'day 26. I enjoyed my 22 and love the 26 but I keep the 26 in the water for the season and on a trailer for the winter. Moving up to a larger boat makes stepping the mast and launching a major project, other wise everything is about the same except bigger. I have set my 26 up so that I can sail it solo (roller furling jib and main halyard lead aft)although my wife is usually along for the ride and can help with the sheets. I am sure that you will enjoy the additional room and the feel of a bigger boat. Happy sailing!!
I had a similar situation going from a cat 22 to an O'day 26. I enjoyed my 22 and love the 26 but I keep the 26 in the water for the season and on a trailer for the winter. Moving up to a larger boat makes stepping the mast and launching a major project, other wise everything is about the same except bigger. I have set my 26 up so that I can sail it solo (roller furling jib and main halyard lead aft)although my wife is usually along for the ride and can help with the sheets. I am sure that you will enjoy the additional room and the feel of a bigger boat. Happy sailing!!
Not too different
The biggest difference you will notice will be below. The head in the separate cabin on the 25 makes a big difference, especially to the ladies. I like the keel/centerboard combo on the Oday better than the Catalina swing keel; its easier to handle and service. Not to mention that your ballast is safely encapsulated in the keel rather than swinging around underneath you. Having said all that, the Oday and the Catalina sail fairly similarly; they are both somewhat tender and neither will point as high as a fixed keel boat of the same length. They are both very manuverable and forgiving of beginners. If you haven't already done so, check out the old Catalina 25 (not the 250) too. I like the pop top, fin keel models better than the Oday 25.
The biggest difference you will notice will be below. The head in the separate cabin on the 25 makes a big difference, especially to the ladies. I like the keel/centerboard combo on the Oday better than the Catalina swing keel; its easier to handle and service. Not to mention that your ballast is safely encapsulated in the keel rather than swinging around underneath you. Having said all that, the Oday and the Catalina sail fairly similarly; they are both somewhat tender and neither will point as high as a fixed keel boat of the same length. They are both very manuverable and forgiving of beginners. If you haven't already done so, check out the old Catalina 25 (not the 250) too. I like the pop top, fin keel models better than the Oday 25.
Enjoy!!!!
I too have a ODay 25. I also race with a friend on a Catalina 25 in a Catalina Club Series. I too prefer the shoal draft/centerboard of the ODay to the Catalina's swing keel. We sail the Great Lakes and the swing keel will bounce in waves and heavy weather. The swing keel system also takes added maintenace. The side decks of the ODay make moving around the deck a breeeze. The wider dside decks make a narrower cabin roof. This makes the interior seem smaller, but you spend the majority of your time outside the boat, not inside. The pop-top on the Catalina is just another thing to break, (am I opinionated or what?) The berths on the ODay are wider than the Catalina's, so they are more comfortable to sleep on when you are below. Obviously, you can see I like my ODay. We've never raced the two boats side to side. I think the Catalina would be faster and point a bit higher. The ODAY 25 does have one weak point,the tiller. It works fine, but has been known to break.
I too have a ODay 25. I also race with a friend on a Catalina 25 in a Catalina Club Series. I too prefer the shoal draft/centerboard of the ODay to the Catalina's swing keel. We sail the Great Lakes and the swing keel will bounce in waves and heavy weather. The swing keel system also takes added maintenace. The side decks of the ODay make moving around the deck a breeeze. The wider dside decks make a narrower cabin roof. This makes the interior seem smaller, but you spend the majority of your time outside the boat, not inside. The pop-top on the Catalina is just another thing to break, (am I opinionated or what?) The berths on the ODay are wider than the Catalina's, so they are more comfortable to sleep on when you are below. Obviously, you can see I like my ODay. We've never raced the two boats side to side. I think the Catalina would be faster and point a bit higher. The ODAY 25 does have one weak point,the tiller. It works fine, but has been known to break.
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