Anyone taken their 25 outside? I have been sailing for about a year but just in a local lake. Curious about the seaworthiness of this boat.
o day 25 seaworthiness
- Thread starter lkishee
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Like you, my Oday 25 is new to me, and I have done comparisons to Cal 25, Cat 25 which I have owned. By the numbers the Oday has a slight edge over both. If that follows the rules, the sailing points to all three are very similar. I can't wait. I will say this I have had both of my other 25's outside (SF to Bodega Bay)(SF to San Diego) and they were both solid sailing vessels. I expect no less from my Oday. Happy Sailing
I saw a couple that had sailed to Jamaica and are in a marina there (one had a modified keel). Personally, I sail Lake Superior and am cautious when I go outside the islands.
sPk
sPk
Coastal Cruising or True Blue Water sailing? It is more than enough for coastal cruising. I have taken mine offshore but I also keep a close eye on the weather. I am planning to go on a 3 day fishing trip in a few months to the Florida Middle Grounds about 70 miles off shore. I know of many that go to the Dry Tortugas in a lot less and that is about 70 miles off shore. It would help to know what needs to be upgraded if you are sailing a 30 year old boat.
Captain Ron/
If it is going to happen Boss,
It is going to happen out there!
/Captain Ron
Captain Ron/
If it is going to happen Boss,
It is going to happen out there!
/Captain Ron
coastal cruising, possibly a trip to the bahamas at some point but will definetly have to feel it out first. I bought the boat from my grandpa who is 78 and has sailed since he was in his 20s. He is very particular so my guess is it needs very little in the way of new hardware. ( he has owned it 3 years, kept in a freshwater slip) The main and working jib were recently new when purchased by him. At his age he only sailed in VERY fair weather so that should be good. the backstay seems a little slack but I dont know how tight it should be. ( the cable is loose, but not the brackets) The only thing that i feel uneasy about is that the mainsail seems a little sticky in the track. It has never actually stuck, but it doesn't always seem fluid. is there a special lubricant for that?
Also, at one point the rudder loosened up. I went below the cockpit to tighten it and noticed that you could see light through the transom. not as in a hole but it looks kind of thin. is that normal? there were no leaks as it was bone dry and hasn't been out of the water for a couple years.
This is my first sailboat and I have been on no others so I can't really compare. I have been out in the lake with a lake wind advisory (just motoring around) and it definetly felt way more secure than some deck boats and bow riders I have been in but that is comparing apples and oranges.
I've had my Oday 25 maybe 7 years.I sail out of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan.Here are a few things I've learned so far .
There are a great many boats faster in lighter winds.You need at least 7 to 10 knots of wind before she'll get in her groove.
When you remove that funky tan burlap covering ,you'll see light from through the hull. Doesn't seem to affect the sailing one bit. I've been led to believe that the transom was lightly built. Well I cracked the transom launching the boat one year and decided to take the oppurtunity to take care of it once and for all. The grudgeons had been leaking as well. There was a 1/2" thick (?) sandwich of wood in the transom. I ended up with 1" and multiple layers of fiberglass woving. The rest of the boat seemed very well put together .
When the wind pipes up and the waves start to build I'm glad I went with the Oday over some of the other brands . The Oday plows through the waves when the other 25 footers are bouncing up and over. The ride or the motion is very reassuring.As of yet I haven't run the halyards back to the cockpit.
As far as the backstay tension goes ,I would snug it up pretty tight. I makes a big differance with the furler (CDI) and I've still come away with very respectable sail shape.
I really like the fact that both the traveller and the mainsheet are directly in front the helmsman.For me that is where they belong if your going out in bigger water especially by yourself .
There are a great many boats faster in lighter winds.You need at least 7 to 10 knots of wind before she'll get in her groove.
When you remove that funky tan burlap covering ,you'll see light from through the hull. Doesn't seem to affect the sailing one bit. I've been led to believe that the transom was lightly built. Well I cracked the transom launching the boat one year and decided to take the oppurtunity to take care of it once and for all. The grudgeons had been leaking as well. There was a 1/2" thick (?) sandwich of wood in the transom. I ended up with 1" and multiple layers of fiberglass woving. The rest of the boat seemed very well put together .
When the wind pipes up and the waves start to build I'm glad I went with the Oday over some of the other brands . The Oday plows through the waves when the other 25 footers are bouncing up and over. The ride or the motion is very reassuring.As of yet I haven't run the halyards back to the cockpit.
As far as the backstay tension goes ,I would snug it up pretty tight. I makes a big differance with the furler (CDI) and I've still come away with very respectable sail shape.
I really like the fact that both the traveller and the mainsheet are directly in front the helmsman.For me that is where they belong if your going out in bigger water especially by yourself .
O'Day 25 Seaworthiness
Probably under good conditions. The issue is up to what conditions.
The guys who designed the O'Day had their office on the Mass. shore. John Denatel was a very good naval architech. Yes, his designs were seaworthy.
Ask Joe if he has heard of 25 handling 4 foot seas. I knew a guy in a 22 foot boat who approached the canal in 8 foot seas. Admitted that he moved up to a 30 footer later.
Even in inland waters fetch can give you four foot waves.
Now the next question is a 30 year plus old boat seaworthy to the degree that it was when new? I know a highly respected naval architech who says any well built fiberglass boat should retain it's integrity until past 50 years if maintained.
So, for inland seas and coastal work, yes a maintained 25 is considered sea worthy.
Each boats seaworthiness must be evaluated against worst possible conditions. Going away from shore could easily expose you to 30 or 50 knot winds. I have a 26 and would not want to expose myself above 30 knots. And at 30 knots I want the dock in sight.
Maybe you should address the question to John Denatel? Although because of our litigious society, I would not expect an answer.
So, in conclusion, if you want to test the sea worthiness and report back, let us know your results. Also, tell us when you leave, so that if you do not post a reply, we know the limits...
Ed K
O26
Seaworthiness has books written about it. Is the O'Day 25 capable of crossing the Atlantic?
Probably under good conditions. The issue is up to what conditions.
The guys who designed the O'Day had their office on the Mass. shore. John Denatel was a very good naval architech. Yes, his designs were seaworthy.
Ask Joe if he has heard of 25 handling 4 foot seas. I knew a guy in a 22 foot boat who approached the canal in 8 foot seas. Admitted that he moved up to a 30 footer later.
Even in inland waters fetch can give you four foot waves.
Now the next question is a 30 year plus old boat seaworthy to the degree that it was when new? I know a highly respected naval architech who says any well built fiberglass boat should retain it's integrity until past 50 years if maintained.
So, for inland seas and coastal work, yes a maintained 25 is considered sea worthy.
Each boats seaworthiness must be evaluated against worst possible conditions. Going away from shore could easily expose you to 30 or 50 knot winds. I have a 26 and would not want to expose myself above 30 knots. And at 30 knots I want the dock in sight.
Maybe you should address the question to John Denatel? Although because of our litigious society, I would not expect an answer.
So, in conclusion, if you want to test the sea worthiness and report back, let us know your results. Also, tell us when you leave, so that if you do not post a reply, we know the limits...
Ed K
O26
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"So, in conclusion, if you want to test the sea worthiness and report back, let us know your results. Also, tell us when you leave, so that if you do not post a reply, we know the limits..."
lkishee
Don't worry about the ending of this post. This guy ended an intelligent post with the same type statement in a thread that I created. Also, he included the picture of a boat that had sunk and you could still see its mast. Do not be discouraged by what one person has to say about your sailing.
There are two pretty big O'Day groups on Facebook that have pretty good membership as well as this site. The groups on facebook have pretty good pictures and also seem like there are good discussions as well. Hope this helps. I just recently purchased a 25 in the off season and can not wat to see what the boat can do.
lkishee
Don't worry about the ending of this post. This guy ended an intelligent post with the same type statement in a thread that I created. Also, he included the picture of a boat that had sunk and you could still see its mast. Do not be discouraged by what one person has to say about your sailing.
There are two pretty big O'Day groups on Facebook that have pretty good membership as well as this site. The groups on facebook have pretty good pictures and also seem like there are good discussions as well. Hope this helps. I just recently purchased a 25 in the off season and can not wat to see what the boat can do.
Purchased my 25 in the fall and will bring it up the Jersey coast from the Chesapeake, in the spring, to NYC. Looked it over and don't think there will be any problem. Since the boat is new to me, I'll try to stay out of winds over 25K if possible just in case.
ebsail
If I may make a suggestion, being that it is an old boat and untried, you might consider taking the sails to a sailmaker and have them checked over. Unless they were made fairly recently you could have problems.
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=747572&highlight=sail slides
The main is pretty much useless without something as simple as sail slides.
Rich
If I may make a suggestion, being that it is an old boat and untried, you might consider taking the sails to a sailmaker and have them checked over. Unless they were made fairly recently you could have problems.
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=747572&highlight=sail slides
The main is pretty much useless without something as simple as sail slides.
Rich
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Not worried about that. Thanks for your reply. I think this particular boat is about as sturdy as this model gets. Just that going off the coast is a bit of a mystery to me. Where do you sail from?
I live on Lake Travis in Texas, the windy part. The 25' has handled everything this lakes had to offer -gusts up to 25 knots and ridiculous swells from power yachts- I do plan to move back home to coastal Maine in the next 5 years so I have a good amount of time to make improvements to the rigging and other items. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
I have a 1980 and it has been in 30 knot winds. Both my wife and I were apprehensive about reefing when the winds kicked up but it was pretty easy as we have done it so many times. We spilled some wind and she moved with ease. The boat is really solid in heavy wind. We observed the stead fast rule in heavy wind, when in doubt - let it out.
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