I am considering a 1981 oday 28 for 1500.
Can anyone tell me what kind of keel it has and if it is a decent boat.
Thanks
Can anyone tell me what kind of keel it has and if it is a decent boat.
Thanks
Are early eightyish oday 28's any good
- Thread starter Hobieandy
- Start date
I have a 1982 Shoal Draft (swing keel) and love it. Should be dropping it back in the water this weekend. YOu can have either a regular keel or a swing keel (shoal draft boat). If you have a metal pole in the middle of the salon its likely a Shoal draft. I think the regular keel folds down from the bulk head wall. They are good boats and if you are getting one for that cheap its a deal provided its not got a ton of rot on it or something.
The 28 was introduced as a 1979 model, orignally offered with a deep, fin-keel (4'6" draft) and a shoal-draft Keel/Centerboard model (about 3'6" draft). Later the Keel/Centerboard option was replaced by a shallow keel (3'8" draft ,no centerboard) and the deep-keel was changed to 4'8" (Possible that the deep-keel was always 4'8" since the 4'6" figure was preliminary is my 1979 Brochure) Shoal-keel models wil lbe heavier due to having more ballast to compensate for the shallower keel.
There never was a "swing-keel" option, only Deep-Fin-Keel, K/CB, and shoal-keel.
I'd want to look carefully at a 1981 model listed for only $1500.00 either the owner really wants to sell, or there may be something that needs fixing! What kind of engine? Does she have the OMC "Zephyr" 15 hp sail-drive? That could be one reason for the price, those were good engines, but parts are harder to find (powerhead was a de-tuned Evinrude/Johnson 35 hp 2-stroke outboard block) and the aluminun, drive leg can corrode.
There never was a "swing-keel" option, only Deep-Fin-Keel, K/CB, and shoal-keel.
I'd want to look carefully at a 1981 model listed for only $1500.00 either the owner really wants to sell, or there may be something that needs fixing! What kind of engine? Does she have the OMC "Zephyr" 15 hp sail-drive? That could be one reason for the price, those were good engines, but parts are harder to find (powerhead was a de-tuned Evinrude/Johnson 35 hp 2-stroke outboard block) and the aluminun, drive leg can corrode.
Call it what you want, but mines a shoal draft and the keel pivots on a pin and swings into place. When I'm thinking centerboard I'm thinking about a board that slides down into place.
Attached is a photo of the Shoal Draft, CB/Swing Keel down. I just replaced the cable on it. Previous owner had tied a peice of 5/8" double braid on it and the damn thing would never pull all the way up. Now it works perfectly.
Attached is a photo of the Shoal Draft, CB/Swing Keel down. I just replaced the cable on it. Previous owner had tied a peice of 5/8" double braid on it and the damn thing would never pull all the way up. Now it works perfectly.
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I have an 1984 fin keel and love the boat. It has a lot of room in the cabin and sails well for it's size. A boat @$1500 I would suspect has some major problems.
A "Centerboard" is a retractable board that acts to prevent leeway and aid steering, it can be pivoted to retract like a jack-knife into the CB trunk or slide vertically through a vertical trunk. If the CB is pivoted it is usually refered to as a centerboard, and if it slides vertically (no pivot) it is usually refered to as a "Daggerboard", I guess refering to how they are like sliding a dagger into it's protective holder.
Sliding or pivoting, both are "centerboards", but usually if it pivots we call it a centerboard, if it slides we call it a daggerboard (like every square is a rectangle, but not every rectangle is a square).
A true centerboard is usually only ballasted enough to allow it to stay down in use, and can be easily raised lowered without a powerfull winch. A "swing-keel" is a heavily ballasted centerboard (usually containing all of the ballast of the boat) that will need a good, powerfull winch (or hydraulics, or similar action) to raise/lower.
O'DAY built a lot of centerboard boats (basically that was there original market), a lot of Keel/CB boats (shallow fixed keel containing ballast with the centerboard housed inside), and many fin-keel (shoal and deep), boats. Later (mid-1980s) they started to build a few wing-keel boats. However, in the 30 years that O'DAY was in business they built exactly ZERO swing-keel boats. (Mariner was a ballasted centerboard boat since the majority of the ballast was inside the hull, not in the centerboard).
I agree with kentwm24, well mostly..... $1500 sounds a bit low, be sure to get a thorough survey before purchase. Could be the boat has been sitting around for a while, with no maintainence, or it could just be that the owner just wants to sell a well-mantained boat quicker. Low price isn't always "BAD", but worth a cautious survey!
I have not seen or heard any major problems with any year of the 28, the early (1979-81?) models had the OMC ZEPHYR saildrive as the standard inboard, it was 2-stroke (required mixing gas/oil in fuel) and only 15 hp, parts are now harder to get and some prefer a Diesel inboard. Later models did come with a Diesel as standard (Diesel had been optional originally), not sure what size (HP) was used. Some of the OMC inboards have been replaced by outboards or retrofitted Diesels by previous owners. Interior layout was changed I think around 1983-4, but it looks like biggest change was moving the table from being mounted on posts to hinging it to the main bulkhead allowing it to be out of the way when not in use.
Sliding or pivoting, both are "centerboards", but usually if it pivots we call it a centerboard, if it slides we call it a daggerboard (like every square is a rectangle, but not every rectangle is a square).
A true centerboard is usually only ballasted enough to allow it to stay down in use, and can be easily raised lowered without a powerfull winch. A "swing-keel" is a heavily ballasted centerboard (usually containing all of the ballast of the boat) that will need a good, powerfull winch (or hydraulics, or similar action) to raise/lower.
O'DAY built a lot of centerboard boats (basically that was there original market), a lot of Keel/CB boats (shallow fixed keel containing ballast with the centerboard housed inside), and many fin-keel (shoal and deep), boats. Later (mid-1980s) they started to build a few wing-keel boats. However, in the 30 years that O'DAY was in business they built exactly ZERO swing-keel boats. (Mariner was a ballasted centerboard boat since the majority of the ballast was inside the hull, not in the centerboard).
I agree with kentwm24, well mostly..... $1500 sounds a bit low, be sure to get a thorough survey before purchase. Could be the boat has been sitting around for a while, with no maintainence, or it could just be that the owner just wants to sell a well-mantained boat quicker. Low price isn't always "BAD", but worth a cautious survey!
I have not seen or heard any major problems with any year of the 28, the early (1979-81?) models had the OMC ZEPHYR saildrive as the standard inboard, it was 2-stroke (required mixing gas/oil in fuel) and only 15 hp, parts are now harder to get and some prefer a Diesel inboard. Later models did come with a Diesel as standard (Diesel had been optional originally), not sure what size (HP) was used. Some of the OMC inboards have been replaced by outboards or retrofitted Diesels by previous owners. Interior layout was changed I think around 1983-4, but it looks like biggest change was moving the table from being mounted on posts to hinging it to the main bulkhead allowing it to be out of the way when not in use.
I am with tcwaltz on this. He does have a "swing keel"! I had a 26' Clipper Marine with 600 lb swing keel and it sure was not a vertical drop down type which is commonly referred to as a "centerboard". Chief
Well Chief RA, I can say with 100% certainty that my DS II DOES NOT HAVE A SWING KEEL!!!!! The CENERBOARD does "swing" since it pivots, but it IS NOT A SWING-KEEL!!! A centerboard that retracts vertically is still a centerboard but is more often refered to as a DAGGERBOARD, like on a Sunfish. (like I said above, a square is a rectangle, but not all rectangles are squares).
A "swing-keel" is more or less a type of centerboard, but a SWNG-KEEL usually contains all of the ballast for the boat and weighs enough to require a heavy winch to raise/lower. The swing-keel on a typical 22' boat will weigh around 500#, while the centerboard on an O'DAY 222 weighs about 50# and is easily raised/lowered with a simple line by hand.
A typical swing-keel on a 17' boat would weigh 200# to 300# while my centerboard weighs less than 30# and has no effect on the stability of the boat, unlike a swing-keel that has a big effect.
The keel on a Clipper 26 IS a swing-keel because it is the KEEL of the boat, it contains all of the ballast and requires a powerfull winch to raise/lower.
The water-ballasted Catalina 250 also does not have a swing-keel it definitely has a centerboard, since there is no ballast in the centerboard except to make it heavy enough to not float, the water in the ballast tank provides the stabilizing force and raising or lowering the CB has makes no difference to the stability of the boat, she is just as self righting without hte CB as with it. Remove the keel from the Clipper 26 and she will roll over pretty easy (no more ballast), the boat will also be less stable with the keel retracted than with it down. On my DS II the boat is just as stable with the CB up as she is with it down since there is not enough weight to have any effect.
A "swing-keel" is one type of centerboard, but a centerboard is not a type of swing-keel. (square vs rectangle again)
Centerboard: only enough ballast to prevent floating, may have a small winch to raise/lower on larger boats, but still CB provides little if any stablizing force. Usually swings/pivots to raise/lower.
Swing-keel: Type of centerboard that contains the primary ballast of boat, thus very heavy and needs a strong winch to raise/lower.
Daggerboard: A type of centerboard that raises/lowers vertically through a trunk, does not pivot to raise/lower. (If heavily ballasted, it would be a retractable-keel or more often refered to as a "drop-keel")
I used to sail a 1970 CAL 21, which had a "swing-keel" that had a 360# lead bulb at the lower end. There was a trailer-type winch to raise/lower the keel and no other ballast in the boat. There was a big difference in the stability of that boat with the keel down and locked versus when the keel was retracted for haul out. BIG DIFFERENCE. Again, NO difference on my DS II with the CB down or Up.
O'DAY built exactly ZERO swing-keel boats and made that point quite strongly in their literature.
Now ,let's all get back to the original question about any feelings about the early 1980's O'DAY 28.
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OK I understand your differentation between the 2. In my part of the country we usually call it a swing keel if it is pinned and swings on same. Chief
Sort-of on topic.... I spotted this 1979 Model on eBay.
It appears that the OMC Zephyr saildrive has been removed and an outboard was used for auxiliary power. Not too sure that I would want to use the installed outboard mount though.....Looks like only 2 bolts actually hold it on, and no real support below those bolts?
Interesting possible correction to my earlier post about an interior change dealing with the table, it appears that the table folding up against the main bulkhead was the standard in 1979, not part of a later update to the standard layout (that's one hazzard to basing things on a preliminary brochure).
It appears that the OMC Zephyr saildrive has been removed and an outboard was used for auxiliary power. Not too sure that I would want to use the installed outboard mount though.....Looks like only 2 bolts actually hold it on, and no real support below those bolts?
Interesting possible correction to my earlier post about an interior change dealing with the table, it appears that the table folding up against the main bulkhead was the standard in 1979, not part of a later update to the standard layout (that's one hazzard to basing things on a preliminary brochure).
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Okay, I love the O'Day 28....The 28 was our first bigger boat to sail. Our good friends at our club owned an O'Day 28 known as Sundance. That was 1979 when we were invited to go for a night sail, which changed our lives....we came back to Wichita (28 miles) and joined this little sailing club at 11:40 p.m....we fell in love with sailing and we fell in love with Sundance that evening. She was/is a fine O'Day 28 that took us on many fun sails in great weather and some really bad weather. The O'Day 28 is one beautiful, large, stable 28 footer. We've danced below and eaten Thanksgiving Dinner cooked in the oven....I think you should invite me to have pancakes with you on Sundance on a beautiful fall morning. I also propose that after you do your due diligence, you should buy it..you will be glad you did....btw, Sundance is still next to us in the slip and she is still beautiful. A love Affair! .Patrick in Wichita
Read your profile and will reply accordingly. I believe and many O'day owners agree that it is one of O'day's best boats. By best, I mean that they nailed it, large boat feel yet very good price easy (simple) to sail. You will do well (flipping it or other)
You obviously know how to inspect the boat.
So to answer the other question, It looks like Sunbird answered your question. A lifting mechanism lack of one will determine what keel configuration and therefore the draft.
I have seen a lot of these on trailers. You may be able to find a trailer to haul this if needed. Much different than your Vanguard.
Regarding your keel, my boat is a 1985 model 28 O’Day. The keel is fiberglass, molded as part of the hull. It is then filled with ballast. I don’t know what was used to fill it, lead, iron or concrete. Maybe bricks and sandwich wrappers. Who knows, but it works.
What you refer to sounds like the mast support to take the weight and pressure of a "deck stepped" spar. i.e. one that is stepped on your cabin top. That pole is required to transfer the force of the spar down to the keel (or some support structure on top of the keel attachment to the bilge).
Edit: OOPS.... just noticed that the 'OP' posted once in 2014, and never returned! All of our pontificating is going unnoticed......
That's very different from our '85 28. Ours was a lead keel bolted onto the keel stub, then coated in some form of epoxy barrier (but just epoxy, no glass).
This is 100% correct, re keels and condition.
Years ago I actually though about making an offer on a 28. I liked the boat. Fast forward to 2019, and many of them will be close to having zero economic value (net value after you subtract cost to remedy flaws).