Looking for O'day 26

Joe11688 · Jan 1, 2010

John Stevens said:
I'm looking for an O'day 26 sailboat with or without a trailer. I live in Florida so I'd need something in the southeast or a delivery situation. I may look at a 25 also for the right deal.

Thanks,

John

I think that you'll find that the 25 is pretty close to the 26, John. I would keep my eyes peeled for a late model keel/centerboard O'Day 25 with the CB pendant line accessed from the cockpit. One of our new YC members picked one up real cheap last year. I think that the boat had water damage in the cabin. The inside needs work and I think that the transom has an issue, but the rest of the boat looks in great condition. He bought a trailer for it and had adjustable poppets installed on it to accommodate the hull. He tried it out last year and he's real green to sailing and decided that it's just not for him, so he bought a powerboat to use this coming season. I'm not sure if he sold the OD 25 yet, but the last time I drove by his house, both boats were in his yard. He lives in Raynham MA., which is not much help to you but these boats are still out there and some of them may need a little TLC. His 25 has an anchor locker on the bow, CB pendant line access in the cockpit, and an outboard bracket on the stern. Good luck!
Joe

Joe11688 · Jan 1, 2010

John Stevens said:
Joe,

Oddly enough, I lived in Raynham, MA for a few months about 25 years ago.

It sounds like the boat might be too much of a project to travel all that way.

John

Really!
It could be too much of a project boat for a ride that far, John. Although, this guy launched that boat last year at the club toward the end of September. For a green guy who has never sailed, he did pretty well at getting the mast up by himself. He's a mechanic by trade and he knows how to do things that others wouldn't attempt. He bought a new Ez-Loader tandem boat trailer for this boat and his boss welded some adjustable poppets on it. Then he raised the boat up by using boat stands, wood blocks, Jacks, and a long metal eye beam and put that trailer under her hull,--all by himself. When he got to the club that day, he set up a wooden crutch in the bed of his pickup truck to hold the mast while he pinned the Tabernacle. He had everything all figured out. He told me that he had put the mast up in his yard for a dry run, which is something that I do every year, myself. He told me that he can't swim a stroke and I told him to always wear a PFD. The boat doesn't have a stern swim ladder and I'm not sure about how he boarded it out on the mooring. I know that the companionway pen boards were all shot and needed to be replaced, which is nothing, but the top of her transom looks to be a little delaminated. The 25s are nice boats John, but they have excessive free-board for my liking. I'd be more inclined on going for a late model O'Day 23 K/C if I wanted to single hand. The 25s and 26s are very high off the water and you need a foot stool to get on and off them at the dock. The Mac 26 is like that too. I think that the 23 is a pretty good compromise if you want to go that small. My 222 suits me just fine as I sail with my dog most of the time and it's easy to single hand. Two people on that boat would be bumping into each other. Good Luck!
Joe

Joe11688 · Jan 5, 2010

John Stevens said:
I just came out of a Precision 23 and looking to move up.

I want something I can do a little more cruising in but still pull the boat out once a year and leave it at the house during the long hot summers of FL. The 25 or 26 fit that mold.

Another odd, off topic fact for you; I performed for a function at the Dighton Yacht Club years ago when living in Raynham. At the time, in my 20's, my brother and I played music back there.

John

Really!!!

I was playing lead guitar in a rock band in the mid 1960s with a group called the Dimensions. We played all over back then. Small world! Today I'm more content with playing Jazz with my Band In A Box software at home.

The O'Day 25 or 26 k/c sloop both trailer very easy. Two of our Shawomet YC members have trailers for these boats, and they trailer them to the club each year. If the boat that you check out has an outboard or a provision for one, I would be mindful of the inside transom. Check it out for any soft spots, or improper backing plates, bolts, or the bracket. Last year, a guy's OD 25 transom on his boat got stove in just from the torque of a 4 stroke he accelerated too high. Thank God the hole was above the waterline of his boat. Oddly enough, the bracket being insufficient for that engine, sustained no damage whatsoever. It's just something to think about John. Good luck with your search and stick with the music.
Joe

kdssail · Jan 11, 2010

Oday 26 for sale for the right price

I have a 1985 Oday 26 inboard that I just had the bottom complteely redone. I don't know the price I would sell it for yet without some investigation. The boat is in really good but not perfect condition. I live in NE Georgia. My trailer could be used for delivery. Dave KDSSAIL@HOTMAIL.COM

emergpa1 · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Oday 26 for sale for the right price

dang, that sounds like a good boat, i would love an inboard but my backyard can't dock another boat!
have any pictures?