I'm considering buying a '79 25 Tall rig/fin keel which has a westerbeke inboard. With that age boat what questions should I be asking the owner and what should I pay attention to on the boat. I know the general things to look for having owned several boats previously but I am particularly interested in issues that have cropped up with this model. Could the Westerbeke have been the original engine? Thanks for your help!
- Status
stx 203 guest
It is no big deal to join this club. How about signing in as member so Captain Herring can get his measly shekels from his advertizers so he can continue this site.
The O'Day 25 Tall Rig is subject to any problems of the O'Day 25 C/B except C/B issues. And both of those boats are very similar to the 23, 26, 27, 28, 222, et al.
So study the archives of this site and pay attention to past post about decks and bulkheads and any other details that are do to age.
Do you have any specific questions?
Ed K
26
stx 203 guest
It is no big deal to join this club. How about signing in as member so Captain Herring can get his measly shekels from his advertizers so he can continue this site.
The O'Day 25 Tall Rig is subject to any problems of the O'Day 25 C/B except C/B issues. And both of those boats are very similar to the 23, 26, 27, 28, 222, et al.
So study the archives of this site and pay attention to past post about decks and bulkheads and any other details that are do to age.
Do you have any specific questions?
Ed K
26
Attachments
The boat you are considering is a bit of a rare bird. Not too many Oday 25's were made with fin keels; the tall rig is somewhat less rare, but is still definitely non-standard. Basically, the model you are considering is equipped with "options" that make it less trailerable, one of the key selling points of the boat. Because these features are not common for the boat, it may be difficult to find others who can give you advice about what to specifically look for in the keel and rig.
For the rest of the boat, here are some common things to check:
-Condition of the bulkhead, especially where the chainplates attach. Water intrusion thru the deck via the chainplates will get to the bulkhead. If not fixed, the water will rot the bulkhead, making the chainplates unstable. Fortunately, the chainplate attachments are out in the open and easy to inspect. If the bulkhead is punky around the chainplates, the bulkhead must be replaced.
-Pintles and gudgeons: Oday was notorious for using undersized hardware to attach the rudder to the transom. Check the hardware, rudder and transom for signs of stress. If the hardware hasn't been replaced already, it may need to be.
-Ports: if the ports leak, they are a real pain to replace.
The only other "usual suspect" when looking at an Oday trailer sailor of this vintage that I can think of is the the centerboard. You don't have that issue to deal with here. I don't know how Oday attached the fin keel on these boats, but I wouldn't be surprised if Oday covered them up with epoxy. If so, you will have to take it on faith that they are in good condition. Check around the keel/hull joint for any stress cracks or compression, indicative of keel movement or hard groundings.
Will you be having the boat surveyed too? If you are spending over $4 or $5 thousand for the boat, its worth it.
For the rest of the boat, here are some common things to check:
-Condition of the bulkhead, especially where the chainplates attach. Water intrusion thru the deck via the chainplates will get to the bulkhead. If not fixed, the water will rot the bulkhead, making the chainplates unstable. Fortunately, the chainplate attachments are out in the open and easy to inspect. If the bulkhead is punky around the chainplates, the bulkhead must be replaced.
-Pintles and gudgeons: Oday was notorious for using undersized hardware to attach the rudder to the transom. Check the hardware, rudder and transom for signs of stress. If the hardware hasn't been replaced already, it may need to be.
-Ports: if the ports leak, they are a real pain to replace.
The only other "usual suspect" when looking at an Oday trailer sailor of this vintage that I can think of is the the centerboard. You don't have that issue to deal with here. I don't know how Oday attached the fin keel on these boats, but I wouldn't be surprised if Oday covered them up with epoxy. If so, you will have to take it on faith that they are in good condition. Check around the keel/hull joint for any stress cracks or compression, indicative of keel movement or hard groundings.
Will you be having the boat surveyed too? If you are spending over $4 or $5 thousand for the boat, its worth it.
The previous post is spot on with the 'usual suspect' items. Lots of leaking points (mast step, ports, chainplates). You'll see the water marks on the wood inside the boat if there are leaks through the chainplates.
I think the biggest problem you may have is if the engine is original. If it is a '79 engine, it probably could use a mechanic to take a look and tell you about compression and condition of the engine.
I have a 1978 tall rig keel, however, the engine was removed before I got the boat and I have an outboard - my guess is that the engine crapped out and it was too expensive to replace for the overall condition & worth of the boat. A few issues I've had with the boat: wiring and plumbing needed to be replaced, rudder hardware, leaks in through deck fittings and trying to find used sails for the boat since there aren't that many out there.
A nice feature about the boat is the taller mast that measures 32ft and will give you more sail area as well as stability from having a keel, there is more head room in the cabin, but you cannot really trailer the boat like the CB model. A custom trailer for one of these boats is upwards of $5,000. In my searching I have come to find that indeed this boat is a rare breed. Not too many I have come across and finding used sails is a bit difficult compared to the CB model.
I think the biggest problem you may have is if the engine is original. If it is a '79 engine, it probably could use a mechanic to take a look and tell you about compression and condition of the engine.
I have a 1978 tall rig keel, however, the engine was removed before I got the boat and I have an outboard - my guess is that the engine crapped out and it was too expensive to replace for the overall condition & worth of the boat. A few issues I've had with the boat: wiring and plumbing needed to be replaced, rudder hardware, leaks in through deck fittings and trying to find used sails for the boat since there aren't that many out there.
A nice feature about the boat is the taller mast that measures 32ft and will give you more sail area as well as stability from having a keel, there is more head room in the cabin, but you cannot really trailer the boat like the CB model. A custom trailer for one of these boats is upwards of $5,000. In my searching I have come to find that indeed this boat is a rare breed. Not too many I have come across and finding used sails is a bit difficult compared to the CB model.
Last edited:
"The boat you are considering is a bit of a rare bird. Not too many Oday 25's were made with fin keels; the tall rig is somewhat less rare, but is still definitely non-standard."
The Tall-Rig and fin-keel were a package deal.... so I am perplexed as to how the tall-rig could be less rare than the fin-keel? This was a "Standard" version of the 25, the boat was built both ways. O'Day marketed the keel version to those who might want to race or at least who would be keeping the boat in the water for the season rather than trailering, and who prefered the better performance of the tall-rig and deep keel rather than shoal-draft. Not all tall-rig boats had inboards, and not all K/CB boats had outboards. The 25 was offered with at least 3 different inboards as optional over the years. Original inboard option (1975-76, as far as I know?) was the 6 hp VIRE 2-stroke gas engine with a straight inboard (shaft & strut). Next came the OMC Zephyr 15hp saildrive, 2-stroke (actually a detuned 35 hp J/E outboard powerhead). Starting in around 1981 or so a Diesel was offered (straight inboard, shaft & strut) using I think the Yanmar 1GM. The VIRE was originally a Dutch? import, and was imported by Westerbeke. They still have some info on this engine on their website!
The Tall-Rig and fin-keel were a package deal.... so I am perplexed as to how the tall-rig could be less rare than the fin-keel? This was a "Standard" version of the 25, the boat was built both ways. O'Day marketed the keel version to those who might want to race or at least who would be keeping the boat in the water for the season rather than trailering, and who prefered the better performance of the tall-rig and deep keel rather than shoal-draft. Not all tall-rig boats had inboards, and not all K/CB boats had outboards. The 25 was offered with at least 3 different inboards as optional over the years. Original inboard option (1975-76, as far as I know?) was the 6 hp VIRE 2-stroke gas engine with a straight inboard (shaft & strut). Next came the OMC Zephyr 15hp saildrive, 2-stroke (actually a detuned 35 hp J/E outboard powerhead). Starting in around 1981 or so a Diesel was offered (straight inboard, shaft & strut) using I think the Yanmar 1GM. The VIRE was originally a Dutch? import, and was imported by Westerbeke. They still have some info on this engine on their website!
Sunbird: you seem to know more about this than me. I know one Oday 25 that has the tall rig with a centerboard; at least, the owner told me it was the tall rig. I never measured. This lead me to believe the boat was offered that way from the manufacturer. Maybe his tall rig was a later modification, or maybe he's just wrong. I agree that the tall rig/fin keel configuration makes a more natural pairing, and I take your word for it that Oday sold them as a package. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they put the tall rig on a centerboard boat on a special order basis. As for the inboard engine question, I have never seen one on an Oday 25, so I can't offer any opinion.
From what other O'DAY owners (those that are original owners of their boats) have said about factory custom options, there very well may have been one or two "custom" O'DAY 25s that had the tall rig with the K/CB hull, but I hope thay added more ballast on those <GRIN!>. On the other hand...... even the "standard" rig on the 25 is "tall" compared to some similar size and vintage trailerboats.
I could actually even wonder if any fin-keel models were shipped to the SF Bay area of California with the standard rig (instead of the tall-rig) due to the high winds that they have, I know other manufacturers offered shorter rigs for boats being delivered there.
I could actually even wonder if any fin-keel models were shipped to the SF Bay area of California with the standard rig (instead of the tall-rig) due to the high winds that they have, I know other manufacturers offered shorter rigs for boats being delivered there.
Great suggestions!
Thanks for the info. I was going to take a look at her today but there's a nor'easter blowin up our way bringing lots of rain and cold temps. Will make appt to visit early next week and see how much rain she took on.
Also took suggestion to register on the site and have been browsing through the archives. My history goes way back to mid 70's when I took an offshore course with the Annapolis Sailing School which involved sailing O'Day 37's from Annapolis to St. Croix. Great trip, boat performed like a champ. In fact there is at least one vintage 37 still in the harbor in Christiansted, St. Croix.
Thanks for the info. I was going to take a look at her today but there's a nor'easter blowin up our way bringing lots of rain and cold temps. Will make appt to visit early next week and see how much rain she took on.
Also took suggestion to register on the site and have been browsing through the archives. My history goes way back to mid 70's when I took an offshore course with the Annapolis Sailing School which involved sailing O'Day 37's from Annapolis to St. Croix. Great trip, boat performed like a champ. In fact there is at least one vintage 37 still in the harbor in Christiansted, St. Croix.
- Status