Hover 212 and KDS sail
One of our club members had a 1974 O'Day 27 last year and sold it. The Vire engine had issues and he installed a bracket on the transom for an outboard. Compared to his later model O'Day 25, the O'Day 27 was faster according to him. He bought the boat at a price that he couldn't refuse and he had to rebuild the spade rudder. His 27 needed more work than he was willing to put into it. His wife liked the boat for it's roomy cabin, but I guess it's hard enough to own one boat in today's economy. If you like this boat, have someone do the fiberglass work on it and do the interior yourself. Good luck.
Joe
Hover,
This and a related subject are being posted all over the place, that is on the the three forums. We have kdssail discussing replacing bulkheads on a 26 on
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=66
Then we have you asking if a O27 worth fixing on
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=115720
where Barry said it is not worth fixing.
And we have this thread. This is the forum that has historically discussed these issues. The 26 was really an attempt to cover both the 25 and 27 markets before O'Day ceased.
The issues on a 27 are really no different from the same issues on a 23, 25, 26 or 28. O'Day used the same constuction techniques on all these boats. And often if the boats were made in the same years, the same parts were used, from what I have seen.
An O'Day is an old boat but might be worth fixing after gathering all the facts and evaluating costs involved.
Is the hull in generally good shape? Is the mast and boom in good shape? these are the two most important questions.
Then we get to deck, motor, standing rigging, sails, etc. Motors only last so long and are routinely replaced. Standing rigging is routinely replaced every so many years. Sail are routinely replace, and constantly repaired. Running rigging is constantly replaced. Caulking is an all the time project. This is sailboating.
In the discussion of the 26 there is the question of bulkheads. So, on the 27 what is the condition of bulkheads? Then on the 26 in replacing the bulkheads is costs of teak. Is teak required in a boat this age? Not in my mind.
Look to Keith's repair using a painted finish on marine plywood. For a 20+ year old boat that is not a genuine one of a kind antique, marine plywood is good and safe. It could be stained like teak or painted like Keith's.
About deck delamination, where and how much? Delamination is typical in these boats around chain plates, under mast and around any thru deck fittings. These areas can be fixed and made to look presentable and safe.
So, is the 27 worth fixing? Maybe? Remember that it does not have to be made to new, just to safe. The 27 had a reputation as fast and fun to sail. If shallow water is not an issue, then a O27 might be fun to sail.
Since you have the thing already, get actual estimates and see if you want to spend that money on a boat. Remember you will not get that money back on if you do not want it anymore.
But then there are no boats which you will get all your money back on unless possibly you do all the reconstuction and even then you will not get what you think it is worth. There are many old sailboats competing for a home rather than the dump.
In a time of slow economic times, many a small boat yard would offer a fair price for the work. Come down to South Carolina to where I keep my boat. They rebuild old boats all the time. Rebuilding takes time, if you start now you should be sailing by summer.
If you decide you do not want the boat, then you might want to find some organization like sea scouts that has a rebuilding program and just give it to them. Just to get it out of the yard quickly. Do not expect to recover the money already spent. Just chalk it up to learning. It might cost about what you paid to have it removed from your yard whereas if you give it away they will bear the costs.
Feel free to ask more questions. Study my technical attachment on this subject.
Ed K
26
