Hi everyone! My wife and I, and our 2 kids, are looking for our first sailboat. Our kids are 2 and 11. We live on a midwest lake that is 9 miles long and 2 miles wide, with about 75 miles of shoreline. We love camping and the outdoors, and currently do a lot of canoe camping, both on the lake and nearby rivers. We want a boat that we can learn to sail on, and do overnighters. We don't want to go halfway across the country to buy, and have found two Odays nearby. A 1976 Daysailer II, and a 1982 model 19. Both are ready to sail, we have been told they need no maintenance, and come on road ready trailers. We have not gone to look at them yet. What questions should I ask the dealer? Are there specific photos I can take that would help anyone here advise me? I really don't have any boat experience, and can really use some help. My wife and I will be taking sailing lessons soon, and joining a sailing club. Thanks so much!
Oday 19 or Daysailer II for first boat?
- Thread starter plainsman
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in my opinion, the very best thing you can do is find a friend that does know a little about boats, and have them go with you to look at any potential purchase....
some people will tell you anything to sell their boat, and when it comes to the quality of the condition of it, everyone has a different standard of what a good, ready to sail boat is.
I looked at many boats before I bought mine, and you would be amazed at what some people think is an acceptable ready to sail boat... and wanting top market price for it..... just because it floats and your able to run the sail up the track, doesnt mean its ready to sail...... and the same goes for the trailer being road ready.... just because it can carry the boat down the road a mile to the marina for launch is way different than being comfortable towing it, with the boat loaded with gear, for a couple hundred miles or more.....
I have always been of the belief that when you look at something with the intent to purchase it, if there is any doubt in your mind, walk away from it..... you can always come back later.
but when you see the the one for you, you will know immediately in your heart, without any doubt that it is the one..... buy it.
best of luck.....
Well, I have to agree with Centerline, but I'll add a few thoughts based on my lifetime of sailing and my present boat, a 1979 DS II.
I was virtually born into sailing, my Dad had a 15'9" BEETLE FALCON sailboat when I was small. The Falcon was a near copy of the O'DAY Osprey (and I am convinced the Osprey was actually a Falcon with a slightly modified deck). By the time I was 4 years old our family had increased by 1 when my sister was born. My parents must have felt that for comfortable family sailing we needed a bigger boat, one with a cabin (and head?) since my sister never went out with us on hte Falcon. So, in 1970 we purchased a new boat, a 1970 CAL 21 (similar to the Mariner). We sold that boat in 2008 due to my Dad finding it better to go sailing with me on my DS II. Anyway, the point is...... You may find the DS II to be a good learning boat and I sure enjoy mine!! However, with your family, the DS II may not be really ideal. The 1982 O'DAY 19 will be more stable, has a small but useable cabin with room for a port-a-pottie and a small bunk area where your 2 year-old can nap. The cabin will provide a place to change into and out of swim-suits, and to stow a cooler. If you desire to spend any nights aboard with more than just you and your wife, or yo uand one child...... (or unless 2 people are willing to sleep in the cockpit under a boom tent?) the 19 may work fine. But, I might suggest that you keep looking and search out a MARINER (1962-78), at 19'2" it is about the same size as the newer O'DAY 19, but the 1969-78 models have 4 bunks inside the cabin, the older 1962-68 models have 2 bunks inside and the cockpit could be used (might require a bit of "backpacker" inginuity) to sleep 2 more. The Mariner is a centerboard boat like the DS II, but like the 19 (which is also a centerboarder) the Mariner has inside ballast to increase stability. The Mariner's CB is cast-iron (165#), the 19 has a fiberglass CB of about 52#. Inside lead ballast is 200# in the Mariner, 300# in the 19.
As I say, I LOVE my DS II, but think you would be better with the 19 (or a MARINER) for family comfort. Also consider a 192, which has a cabin like the Mariner, but is styled like a bit bigger boat. Downside to the 192 is that with her keel/centerboard design she draws more water which will slightly affect trailiering and beaching, Also since the oldest 192 will be a 1985, newest a 1989.....price will be higher than for the Mariner or 19.
As was said above, we can comment on the 2 models that you mention, but for true test....yo uneed to find someone local that knows boats and could come with you to help look at the boats and perhaps provide a knowing view of each boat's condition vs price.
I was virtually born into sailing, my Dad had a 15'9" BEETLE FALCON sailboat when I was small. The Falcon was a near copy of the O'DAY Osprey (and I am convinced the Osprey was actually a Falcon with a slightly modified deck). By the time I was 4 years old our family had increased by 1 when my sister was born. My parents must have felt that for comfortable family sailing we needed a bigger boat, one with a cabin (and head?) since my sister never went out with us on hte Falcon. So, in 1970 we purchased a new boat, a 1970 CAL 21 (similar to the Mariner). We sold that boat in 2008 due to my Dad finding it better to go sailing with me on my DS II. Anyway, the point is...... You may find the DS II to be a good learning boat and I sure enjoy mine!! However, with your family, the DS II may not be really ideal. The 1982 O'DAY 19 will be more stable, has a small but useable cabin with room for a port-a-pottie and a small bunk area where your 2 year-old can nap. The cabin will provide a place to change into and out of swim-suits, and to stow a cooler. If you desire to spend any nights aboard with more than just you and your wife, or yo uand one child...... (or unless 2 people are willing to sleep in the cockpit under a boom tent?) the 19 may work fine. But, I might suggest that you keep looking and search out a MARINER (1962-78), at 19'2" it is about the same size as the newer O'DAY 19, but the 1969-78 models have 4 bunks inside the cabin, the older 1962-68 models have 2 bunks inside and the cockpit could be used (might require a bit of "backpacker" inginuity) to sleep 2 more. The Mariner is a centerboard boat like the DS II, but like the 19 (which is also a centerboarder) the Mariner has inside ballast to increase stability. The Mariner's CB is cast-iron (165#), the 19 has a fiberglass CB of about 52#. Inside lead ballast is 200# in the Mariner, 300# in the 19.
As I say, I LOVE my DS II, but think you would be better with the 19 (or a MARINER) for family comfort. Also consider a 192, which has a cabin like the Mariner, but is styled like a bit bigger boat. Downside to the 192 is that with her keel/centerboard design she draws more water which will slightly affect trailiering and beaching, Also since the oldest 192 will be a 1985, newest a 1989.....price will be higher than for the Mariner or 19.
As was said above, we can comment on the 2 models that you mention, but for true test....yo uneed to find someone local that knows boats and could come with you to help look at the boats and perhaps provide a knowing view of each boat's condition vs price.
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