Maintenance Keel on Oday 23

[Phil]

Am considering purchasing an ODay but have concerns with the shoal keel and maintenance on an early 80's model. Can someone answer:1) do all ODays in the 23-25 foot range have movable keels that are trailerable? Any with fixed winged keels?2) Any issues with maintenace of the Oday 23? Does the cabin remain dry?3) Impact with sailing and tradeoffs vs a fixed keel that is trailerable?Thanks!

 

[Brian]

Oday 23-25

1. The oday 25 was available with a fixed keel, have never seen one with a winged keel.2. Maintenance? No more than any sailboat that I have been around. Dry? As long as it is in good condition and maintained properly. I'm not sure what you are asking with this question, but the Oday 23 and 25 are VERY well made, reliable boats if the are in good repair.3. Not knowing the conditions under which you will be sailing, it is a little hard to say. The keel design with a center board is as stable as most winged keels I have sailed. It is a matter of keel design and draft. I myself like the center board for a couple of reasons. First it allows me to venture into shallower water while exploring. Second when I'm running I raise it to get that little extra out of her when I'm trying to hold off the charge to the finish line during a friendly race.If speed and performance is your goal, then get a J-22 or J-24, If a good quality coastal cruiser is your goal, an Oday would be my first pick. In my opinion few boat are as well made for the long haul. In fact I'm sure my grandchildren will enjoy trips on the lake in my Oday 23, long after I'm gone.I hope this helps.

 

[Dave France]

We've had an 81 Oday 23' for two years, and no problems beyond what would be considered routine maintenance.She was in the water for Hurricane Isabell recently, which passed right over us, and remained dry inside. The only water we collect in the bilge is from our bad habit of using ice in the icechest instead of sealed frozen bottles (the chest drains to the bilge).

 

[Rod Johnson,]

O'Day 240 was only Wing-Keel in size range.

The only O'Day in the 23-25' range with a wing-keel was the 240, D&R Marine now offers this as the O'Day 250 (only one has been built). The 23 was available for a while with a deep fin-keel (not sure of draft, maybe 4'3" +/-) Most were built as the Keel/CB version. The 25 was offered in either K/CB or Deep Fin-Keel models, the fin-keel model had a draft of 4' 6" and the rig was 2' taller than the K/CB model. I have sailed on my friend's 1979 25, he has the fin-keel model and I thought the boat handles pretty good.The 1977-85 O'Day 23 K/CB had the lead ballast contained within the molded-in keel, CB was lightly ballasted. One item of mantainence not mentioned yet is the CB pendant (line to raise/lower board) some owners have had to replace this after several years (or after buying used boat). This is not supposed to be a hard fix, and D&R Marine sells the pendant pre-made.