Made offer on a 82 Cat 30 but gave up after the survey turned up water in A4 for over a year along with a whole slew of other problems. Everybody on the Cat forum told me to bail out and I reluctantly did. But over the holiday I found a 77 Oday 32. I am new to sailing and appreciated all the help from the Catalina people. Where do I find info on the Oday? It is very clean with newer furlex roller furling main, roller furler jib, newer Horizon digital electronics(depth,wind/speed/point,knots), Apelco DXL 6000 Loran, VHF, Autohelm 3000, new cushions with toss pillows, Electra-Head-Mate and Raritan electric heads, Cockpit table, Hot/cold pressure water, Westerbeke 30 diesel, Guest 1.5 amp charger, Newer dodger, Sure Flo 1500 bilge pump and Whale manual Gusher, 2 oscillating 12 volt fans, parachute sea anchor, some tools, Spare parts(small hardware), Lines,fenders,older MOB horseshoe and buoy, Inflatable 2 man raft, Danforth type anchor with rubber coated chain leader and rode, weather gear, Old stereo and speakers(six/some distortion). Problems-Mast lights don't seem to work, High pressure natural gas tank sits behind head in main cabin,bad tach, hot water element bad. Survey hasn't been done yet, $22,000 and he wants a deposit right away has other interested parties that havn't been inside yet, I pressured him into his combo to cabins. What do you think??? Should I jump on it? The Only thing I have sailed is a Mac Gregor 25, and only about 4 times. Please advise!!!
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Bob Knott
Don't rush
Boats are a dime a dozen. Slow down, learn, find out what you like and don't like, and don't ever let the seller rush you. If the boats gone tomorrow you'll find 20 more next week, or 20,000 more in the next issue of Soundings. Competent survey since you are inexperienced, good long test sail a must with a older boat. Also get a good bargain price and you'll be a happy sailor this summer. Any complications, just walk and start looking again. Shopping for your dream boat can be a blast. Happy Hunting Bob Knott H380
Boats are a dime a dozen. Slow down, learn, find out what you like and don't like, and don't ever let the seller rush you. If the boats gone tomorrow you'll find 20 more next week, or 20,000 more in the next issue of Soundings. Competent survey since you are inexperienced, good long test sail a must with a older boat. Also get a good bargain price and you'll be a happy sailor this summer. Any complications, just walk and start looking again. Shopping for your dream boat can be a blast. Happy Hunting Bob Knott H380
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dave
O32 is a heavy boat
The O32 is as heavy as the O35 from the mid 80's about 11,000 pounds from what an owner told me a few slips down. Some of your comments scare me. Who would put a propane tank (CNG?) inside the cabin? These tanks should be in an outside locker with a vent to overboard discharge, and with a solenoid switch to shut off the supply. You may have a potential bomb. If you buy the boat rip this out and install it right or get an Origo alcohol stove. Lights on the mast should be easy to fix...check the bulbs or the connections, most likely the connections are corroded. The nonsense of other interested parties is just a gimmick to pressure you. Make sure you check the deck for any core rot problems. It should be a good rugged boat, Offer the guy 20% less than asking price to start with and subject to the survey results. Then use the survey results to drop the offer lower or to walk. He will expect you to increase your offer thinnking you started low to meet him halfway. When you lower the offer it will put him off balance. Make very sure the engine is in good condition. A new engine installed can run you ten grand!!! For 32 grand instead of 22 grand you might be able to get a newer boat in better condition. happy hunting dave
The O32 is as heavy as the O35 from the mid 80's about 11,000 pounds from what an owner told me a few slips down. Some of your comments scare me. Who would put a propane tank (CNG?) inside the cabin? These tanks should be in an outside locker with a vent to overboard discharge, and with a solenoid switch to shut off the supply. You may have a potential bomb. If you buy the boat rip this out and install it right or get an Origo alcohol stove. Lights on the mast should be easy to fix...check the bulbs or the connections, most likely the connections are corroded. The nonsense of other interested parties is just a gimmick to pressure you. Make sure you check the deck for any core rot problems. It should be a good rugged boat, Offer the guy 20% less than asking price to start with and subject to the survey results. Then use the survey results to drop the offer lower or to walk. He will expect you to increase your offer thinnking you started low to meet him halfway. When you lower the offer it will put him off balance. Make very sure the engine is in good condition. A new engine installed can run you ten grand!!! For 32 grand instead of 22 grand you might be able to get a newer boat in better condition. happy hunting dave
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Brad Elbein
Survey survey survey
I've heard great things about the old O'Days, so the hull is probably o.k. However, the other comments are probably right. I don't mind a former owner making any kind of unique modifications, as long as they aren't dangerous. I'd really worry about the propane tank. Of course, you know that you must get a survey. Any boat that isn't new from the factory needs a survey, and as someone else said, use it as a bargaining chip. Now, my real suggestion. As a new sailor, you should not be looking for a boat this big. To learn to sail--and after 20 years I'm still learning--you need a smaller boat. I know some people say that you should buy the biggest boat you can afford and learn on it, but I don't agree. I think you learn to be a great sailor in a small boat. For my money, the Catalina 22 is one of the best sailing boats around. I learned a whole hell of a lot about sailing from it and the 17 footer I had before that. The C22 is trailerable, so you can take it anywhere you want; it's big enough to overnight in; it sails better than any boat I've ever sailed other than a 420. They're inexpensive (about $5k with the trailer) and they are readily re-sellable. Take the money you would have spent on the 32 footer and put it in the bank and spend a year or two or three on a C22 and you will be very far advanced when you're ready to buy the bigger boat. One last thing ... don't hurry. There are plenty of big boats on the market. And in the 10 years or so (oh my gosh, it's actually now been 20 years!) since I've been watching the classifieds on boats, I have to tell you that there are ALWAYS boats on the market. If you want more discussion, please feel free to contact me at belbein@ftc.gov.
I've heard great things about the old O'Days, so the hull is probably o.k. However, the other comments are probably right. I don't mind a former owner making any kind of unique modifications, as long as they aren't dangerous. I'd really worry about the propane tank. Of course, you know that you must get a survey. Any boat that isn't new from the factory needs a survey, and as someone else said, use it as a bargaining chip. Now, my real suggestion. As a new sailor, you should not be looking for a boat this big. To learn to sail--and after 20 years I'm still learning--you need a smaller boat. I know some people say that you should buy the biggest boat you can afford and learn on it, but I don't agree. I think you learn to be a great sailor in a small boat. For my money, the Catalina 22 is one of the best sailing boats around. I learned a whole hell of a lot about sailing from it and the 17 footer I had before that. The C22 is trailerable, so you can take it anywhere you want; it's big enough to overnight in; it sails better than any boat I've ever sailed other than a 420. They're inexpensive (about $5k with the trailer) and they are readily re-sellable. Take the money you would have spent on the 32 footer and put it in the bank and spend a year or two or three on a C22 and you will be very far advanced when you're ready to buy the bigger boat. One last thing ... don't hurry. There are plenty of big boats on the market. And in the 10 years or so (oh my gosh, it's actually now been 20 years!) since I've been watching the classifieds on boats, I have to tell you that there are ALWAYS boats on the market. If you want more discussion, please feel free to contact me at belbein@ftc.gov.
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Larry Watkins
The Cat is dead
Jerry; I agree, don't let yourself be rushed into anything. I also agree on starting with a smaller boat, even learning to sail a dink. It will teach you wind/water, thinking ahead, planning, and a lot more things than starting with a bigger boat. Larry W.
Jerry; I agree, don't let yourself be rushed into anything. I also agree on starting with a smaller boat, even learning to sail a dink. It will teach you wind/water, thinking ahead, planning, and a lot more things than starting with a bigger boat. Larry W.
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Ken Cobb
More info on O'Days
Don't forget that there is an O'Dayowners.com site affiliated with this one, where you can learn more about the O'Day boat models. Sailnet.com also has a section called "boatsearch" that has owner reviews of most boats. Amen to the guys who say learn on a somewhat smaller boat. I can understand wanting to start with some kind of cruiser so that your wife and kids (if any) can have the peace of mind of a ballasted keel and a potty, but the big boats are expoentially larger than the smaller ones, especially in sail area and sophistication of rigging. A 27-foot boat often has only half of the displacement of a 32.
Don't forget that there is an O'Dayowners.com site affiliated with this one, where you can learn more about the O'Day boat models. Sailnet.com also has a section called "boatsearch" that has owner reviews of most boats. Amen to the guys who say learn on a somewhat smaller boat. I can understand wanting to start with some kind of cruiser so that your wife and kids (if any) can have the peace of mind of a ballasted keel and a potty, but the big boats are expoentially larger than the smaller ones, especially in sail area and sophistication of rigging. A 27-foot boat often has only half of the displacement of a 32.
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JERRY
Jerry and clan, 7-8 in Mac 25 on Lake MI
Thanks for the responses everyone, but I need to make some clarifications. We started sailing this spring in a Mac Gregor 25. 7-8 of us sleep over at our slip Michigan City(4 under 12,1-2 teens,2 adults, SARDINES IN A FLOATING CAN.) We have made about 5 Voyages, anchored overnight,weathered 4-5' waves and went back out in 3-4' waves to sail back to Mich. City from new Buffalo, we raised the mast, rigged the boat,and set sail with no previous experience or help whatsover other than library books. Our biggest problems has been docking with a 9.9 Johnson that seems to want to stall mysteriously out of the blue with no for warning while docking in windy conditions. I only say this to let you know how important space and a sea worthy boat is. If we were not Quite capable we would have probably washed ashore weeks ago. I already have a surveyer lined up that I used on the Cat. 30. As for the GAS CYLINDER STRAPPED BEHIND THE HEAD IN THE FORE CABIN, NOT IN A COMPARTMENT, IT IS NOT PROPANE, IT IS NATURAL GAS IN A TALL CYLINDER WITH A GAGE THAT READS TO 3000. The original owner(A PHYSICIAN)installed it and it has remained that way through 3 surveys, everything is well documented. There is a samsonite briefcase cramed full of paperwork on the boat. Why the natural gas cylinder and stove is beyond me, but the previous owner never had it filled in 11 yrs and it still reads at 1500. I suppose if the valve were knocked loose it might make a large opening through the bottom of the boat! The current seller didn't pressure me I pressured him. He wasn't going to let me see it untill he could travel up and schedule showings. After three phone calls he finally gave me the combination to go in on my own. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT I HAVN'T FOUND A SINGLE 32 FOR SALE ANYWHERE, NOBODY HAS TOLD ME HOW THEY SALE IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS(HEAVY WEATHER, LIGHT WIND, DOCKING UNDER POWER...) I have come to the conclusion that even though the center cockpit offers advantages for a family (aft cabin privacy,high and dry, depth) it is not highly popular due to apperances? Still searching for more info. Jerry Rudig
Thanks for the responses everyone, but I need to make some clarifications. We started sailing this spring in a Mac Gregor 25. 7-8 of us sleep over at our slip Michigan City(4 under 12,1-2 teens,2 adults, SARDINES IN A FLOATING CAN.) We have made about 5 Voyages, anchored overnight,weathered 4-5' waves and went back out in 3-4' waves to sail back to Mich. City from new Buffalo, we raised the mast, rigged the boat,and set sail with no previous experience or help whatsover other than library books. Our biggest problems has been docking with a 9.9 Johnson that seems to want to stall mysteriously out of the blue with no for warning while docking in windy conditions. I only say this to let you know how important space and a sea worthy boat is. If we were not Quite capable we would have probably washed ashore weeks ago. I already have a surveyer lined up that I used on the Cat. 30. As for the GAS CYLINDER STRAPPED BEHIND THE HEAD IN THE FORE CABIN, NOT IN A COMPARTMENT, IT IS NOT PROPANE, IT IS NATURAL GAS IN A TALL CYLINDER WITH A GAGE THAT READS TO 3000. The original owner(A PHYSICIAN)installed it and it has remained that way through 3 surveys, everything is well documented. There is a samsonite briefcase cramed full of paperwork on the boat. Why the natural gas cylinder and stove is beyond me, but the previous owner never had it filled in 11 yrs and it still reads at 1500. I suppose if the valve were knocked loose it might make a large opening through the bottom of the boat! The current seller didn't pressure me I pressured him. He wasn't going to let me see it untill he could travel up and schedule showings. After three phone calls he finally gave me the combination to go in on my own. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT I HAVN'T FOUND A SINGLE 32 FOR SALE ANYWHERE, NOBODY HAS TOLD ME HOW THEY SALE IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS(HEAVY WEATHER, LIGHT WIND, DOCKING UNDER POWER...) I have come to the conclusion that even though the center cockpit offers advantages for a family (aft cabin privacy,high and dry, depth) it is not highly popular due to apperances? Still searching for more info. Jerry Rudig
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Bill O'Donovan
Invaluable info
Yo Jerry- Some of the best advice you'll ever get, you just got. The people responding to your posting offer invaluable info, including Ken Kobb's reference to two other Web sites. The specific questions you pose compel specific answers. Most of what we learned years ago was trial-by-error, but you're getting some great info through the shared owners' site. I would also suggest doing "thread" searches by word-search and checking the archives of Hunter Owners and other sites for answers.
Yo Jerry- Some of the best advice you'll ever get, you just got. The people responding to your posting offer invaluable info, including Ken Kobb's reference to two other Web sites. The specific questions you pose compel specific answers. Most of what we learned years ago was trial-by-error, but you're getting some great info through the shared owners' site. I would also suggest doing "thread" searches by word-search and checking the archives of Hunter Owners and other sites for answers.
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Ken Cobb
No info on 32's
Just out of curiosity I checked the other two web sites, and found no owner reviews for the O'Day 32. Perhaps very few were ever sold. I made a mistake in my earlier post anyway, when I said that owner reviews were under the "boat search" part of the Sailnet web site. They are under the "boat check" part. There was a big thread, with lots comments, in here recently about the pros and cons of center cockpit boats. I don't know how to access archived forum posts, though. The long and short of it was that center cockpits provide some extra forward visibility and protection from stern waves, but they give the helmsman a worse view of the trim of his sails, they dispel water in the cockpit more slowly, tand sometimes don't have an adequate boarding transom.
Just out of curiosity I checked the other two web sites, and found no owner reviews for the O'Day 32. Perhaps very few were ever sold. I made a mistake in my earlier post anyway, when I said that owner reviews were under the "boat search" part of the Sailnet web site. They are under the "boat check" part. There was a big thread, with lots comments, in here recently about the pros and cons of center cockpit boats. I don't know how to access archived forum posts, though. The long and short of it was that center cockpits provide some extra forward visibility and protection from stern waves, but they give the helmsman a worse view of the trim of his sails, they dispel water in the cockpit more slowly, tand sometimes don't have an adequate boarding transom.
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Mike
O'Day
Do not buy this vessel unless you have it surveyed by capable person. Natural gas tank inside vessel is no-no. Any leakage into bilge or cabin makes boat a bomb (literally) Tank must be outside for safety and adequate ventilation for bilge provided. Suggest not putting money down until you are satisfied with boat performance (trial sail) and survey. If you must put money down, make sale contingent upon your approval of survey and demo sail and money refunded if you are not satisfied.
Do not buy this vessel unless you have it surveyed by capable person. Natural gas tank inside vessel is no-no. Any leakage into bilge or cabin makes boat a bomb (literally) Tank must be outside for safety and adequate ventilation for bilge provided. Suggest not putting money down until you are satisfied with boat performance (trial sail) and survey. If you must put money down, make sale contingent upon your approval of survey and demo sail and money refunded if you are not satisfied.
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Chris Gonzales
Rush
Jerry, If you (so far) really like what you see, go ahead and make your offer subject to survey and a sea trial. You have nothing to loose as long as you have the proper offer contract drawn and feel safe that your deposit is in the hands of a neutral third party and thus returnable later. ANY time during or after the survey and sea trial you can quit and get your bucks back if you decide to. Chris
Jerry, If you (so far) really like what you see, go ahead and make your offer subject to survey and a sea trial. You have nothing to loose as long as you have the proper offer contract drawn and feel safe that your deposit is in the hands of a neutral third party and thus returnable later. ANY time during or after the survey and sea trial you can quit and get your bucks back if you decide to. Chris
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Rodney Kidd
CNG vs Propane
A few of these posts have mentioned that the CNG tank is a "bomb" and should be ripped out of the boat. CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas. CNG is the same stuff piped to your house to run your gas fired water heater, stove, etc. CNG IS LIGHTER THAN AIR. It will not fill the bilge and cause an explosion. No solenoids or sniffers are required because CNG will float up and out of the boat. Propane, on the other hand, is heavier than air and WILL settle in the bilge and can cause an explosion. That's why sniffers and solenoids are required for propane installations. How do I know this? I've had a CNG installation on my boat since the boat was new. The boat was surveyed with no problems. The cylinder located in the aft lazerette. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear
A few of these posts have mentioned that the CNG tank is a "bomb" and should be ripped out of the boat. CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas. CNG is the same stuff piped to your house to run your gas fired water heater, stove, etc. CNG IS LIGHTER THAN AIR. It will not fill the bilge and cause an explosion. No solenoids or sniffers are required because CNG will float up and out of the boat. Propane, on the other hand, is heavier than air and WILL settle in the bilge and can cause an explosion. That's why sniffers and solenoids are required for propane installations. How do I know this? I've had a CNG installation on my boat since the boat was new. The boat was surveyed with no problems. The cylinder located in the aft lazerette. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear
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Mark Johnson
Agree with Rodney..
That's why they call CNG "safe gas" any leaks in the system will float "up" not "down". It does NOT have to been vented overboard like propane. I had it on my previous boat and liked it. Only problem, it was hard to come by and was expensive.
That's why they call CNG "safe gas" any leaks in the system will float "up" not "down". It does NOT have to been vented overboard like propane. I had it on my previous boat and liked it. Only problem, it was hard to come by and was expensive.
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Richard Weaver
CNG vs Propane
I agree with Rodney & Mark. Having worked in the gas industry for approx. 20 yrs, you wouldn't believe the terrible accidents caused by leaking propane gas whether in a home or on a boat!! Like they said natural gas is lighter than air and will float up to be dissipated into the air.Propane however will find the lowest point in an object and just sit there waiting for an ignition source. I have had a CNG tank on my boat for years and yes it's expensive and sometimes hard to find but I'll take that trade off for the safety any day. Richard Weaver C27 (Only Child)
I agree with Rodney & Mark. Having worked in the gas industry for approx. 20 yrs, you wouldn't believe the terrible accidents caused by leaking propane gas whether in a home or on a boat!! Like they said natural gas is lighter than air and will float up to be dissipated into the air.Propane however will find the lowest point in an object and just sit there waiting for an ignition source. I have had a CNG tank on my boat for years and yes it's expensive and sometimes hard to find but I'll take that trade off for the safety any day. Richard Weaver C27 (Only Child)
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JERRY
CNG vs Propane
I called a local gas supplier and he didn't even know where to find it. Who do you call natural gas companies? Jerry Rudig
I called a local gas supplier and he didn't even know where to find it. Who do you call natural gas companies? Jerry Rudig
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