Hi, I am seriously thinking of buying an oday 302 and have a couple questions. i used to own a 27SE and am somewhat familiar with the boat. the 1989 302 I am looking at has a blue hull. I have not seen any other owners pictures with the blue hull. Was this an option? standard? or repainted? I have been looking at Catalina 30's between 1979 and 1984 in the same pricce rang, about 20-25K. Are there any opinions about these models. The 302 I am considering is indeed loaded with all upgrades, i.e. electronics, sails furlings, rigging, rebuilt engine. Any information or opinions would be greatly welcomed. Thanks for your input. Alan
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Newer boat? More upgrades? Hmmm...
Alan, I can't speak from personal experience about the 302, but if it's anything as good as my 322 (a 1989 model), you'll be getting a helluva boat! I do know of a few 302 owners, and they all seem very pleased with the boat. As for the blue hull, my money would be on a repaint. I always thought pearl gray was the stock color for 302 and 322 hulls. I guess some investigating is in order. Good luck. Pete s/v EmmieLou (O-322) Little Silver, NJ
Alan, I can't speak from personal experience about the 302, but if it's anything as good as my 322 (a 1989 model), you'll be getting a helluva boat! I do know of a few 302 owners, and they all seem very pleased with the boat. As for the blue hull, my money would be on a repaint. I always thought pearl gray was the stock color for 302 and 322 hulls. I guess some investigating is in order. Good luck. Pete s/v EmmieLou (O-322) Little Silver, NJ
Considerations
I remember a 302 in Huntington Harbor, New York with a blue hull sold by Coneys Marine. Having said that, the 302 is a very light boat and probably would not perform well in seas or weather. There are some reviews on this site which I read because I was thinking about one too. THere is also some talk of a poor structure surtrounding the keel boats. Good luck.
I remember a 302 in Huntington Harbor, New York with a blue hull sold by Coneys Marine. Having said that, the 302 is a very light boat and probably would not perform well in seas or weather. There are some reviews on this site which I read because I was thinking about one too. THere is also some talk of a poor structure surtrounding the keel boats. Good luck.
oday 302
Alan, although I have never owned the 302 Irecently sold a 1989 Catalina 30 which Sailed before I down sized. The Catalina 30 is a relatively heavy boat at 10,000 lbs. I did not find this to be an issue and actually appreciated it when the wind picked up. I personally would buy another Cat 30 if I was in the market. The only reason I sold it was that I found it difficult to Singlehand due to lack of crew.
Alan, although I have never owned the 302 Irecently sold a 1989 Catalina 30 which Sailed before I down sized. The Catalina 30 is a relatively heavy boat at 10,000 lbs. I did not find this to be an issue and actually appreciated it when the wind picked up. I personally would buy another Cat 30 if I was in the market. The only reason I sold it was that I found it difficult to Singlehand due to lack of crew.
302 is a good option
After 16 years with an O'Day 240, I moved up to a 1988 302 about three years ago. I really love this boat. No major problems. It points very well and it performs well on a reach and a run. I spent a day last weekend going thru all kinds of boats at the Chicago Strictly Sail show. After all was said and done, I decided that the layout and the space in my 20-year old 302 was as good as any layout and space available on any of the new 30 footers I boarded at the show. (There was this wonderful 37 ft. Tartan however.....!) I sail on in inland lake in Kansas -- we don't have big seas. But there's nothing stopping the wind from the Rocky Mountains to the lake and I've been in plenty of 20-30 knot winds -- sail with common sense and the 302 will serve you well and it will be plenty of fun. I'm planning on trying some singlehanding this year -- need to buy an auto-inflatable PFD. But I'm convinced I can singlehand this boat. Good luck.
After 16 years with an O'Day 240, I moved up to a 1988 302 about three years ago. I really love this boat. No major problems. It points very well and it performs well on a reach and a run. I spent a day last weekend going thru all kinds of boats at the Chicago Strictly Sail show. After all was said and done, I decided that the layout and the space in my 20-year old 302 was as good as any layout and space available on any of the new 30 footers I boarded at the show. (There was this wonderful 37 ft. Tartan however.....!) I sail on in inland lake in Kansas -- we don't have big seas. But there's nothing stopping the wind from the Rocky Mountains to the lake and I've been in plenty of 20-30 knot winds -- sail with common sense and the 302 will serve you well and it will be plenty of fun. I'm planning on trying some singlehanding this year -- need to buy an auto-inflatable PFD. But I'm convinced I can singlehand this boat. Good luck.
Another Question about the 302
I have another question about my possible 1989 302 purchase. I was told 2 things which I can not research online. 1) this is a 302 MK II. What is a MK II? How is it different from standard 302? 2) It is said to have come with an in-mast roller furling system option. Was this an option? Is it a good rig? Thanks. I am nervous about not being able to find this information in amy of the Oday forums or online. Alan
I have another question about my possible 1989 302 purchase. I was told 2 things which I can not research online. 1) this is a 302 MK II. What is a MK II? How is it different from standard 302? 2) It is said to have come with an in-mast roller furling system option. Was this an option? Is it a good rig? Thanks. I am nervous about not being able to find this information in amy of the Oday forums or online. Alan
in mast must be after market
I have never heard of any O'Day having in mast furling. The 302 is a "Mark II" version of the Original O'Day 30. Hence the name 302.....
I have never heard of any O'Day having in mast furling. The 302 is a "Mark II" version of the Original O'Day 30. Hence the name 302.....
Not new to me
Alan, At my old marina, there's a 302 with in-mast furling, which I always thought was kinda curious, since I never thought this was a big thing in the late 1980s, when the 302s were rolling off the production line. I'm inclined to agree with Mike that it's an aftermarket thing. Hard to comment from a distance if it's a good rig or not. Pete s/v EmmieLou (O-322) Little Silver, NJ P.S.: If you do buy the boat, and you're in the Northeast, come to Chelsea YC in July for the big O'day owners' rOnDAYvous. It's well worth the trip.
Alan, At my old marina, there's a 302 with in-mast furling, which I always thought was kinda curious, since I never thought this was a big thing in the late 1980s, when the 302s were rolling off the production line. I'm inclined to agree with Mike that it's an aftermarket thing. Hard to comment from a distance if it's a good rig or not. Pete s/v EmmieLou (O-322) Little Silver, NJ P.S.: If you do buy the boat, and you're in the Northeast, come to Chelsea YC in July for the big O'day owners' rOnDAYvous. It's well worth the trip.
What I've heard about in mast furlers
I agree with all that its an aftermarket item and my boat slip neighbor has a Cape Dory with a main furler and when I questioned him about it he told me its great to operate but you loose about 20% of sail area.
I agree with all that its an aftermarket item and my boat slip neighbor has a Cape Dory with a main furler and when I questioned him about it he told me its great to operate but you loose about 20% of sail area.
302 was a later model.
I am certain the 302 was a new design which came to be right after O'Day came out with the 272 LE. They had gray hulls and in my humble opinion, the O'Day 302 is a very fine boat....I sail in Kansas too and the O'Day 302 is very stiff, and is just easy to sail....even in heavy winds...They are a handsome boat below and even more so on the water. The 302 has a hydrokeel and the exterio color design was by Gruman Corp. in Boston. C.Raymond Hunt did all the late model O'Days....and they are beautiful on the water.....The freeboard may be a little high, but I think they are great boats. I'm certain a blue hull would have been painted....They were all originally gray I believe.. go buy and enjoy. Patrick
I am certain the 302 was a new design which came to be right after O'Day came out with the 272 LE. They had gray hulls and in my humble opinion, the O'Day 302 is a very fine boat....I sail in Kansas too and the O'Day 302 is very stiff, and is just easy to sail....even in heavy winds...They are a handsome boat below and even more so on the water. The 302 has a hydrokeel and the exterio color design was by Gruman Corp. in Boston. C.Raymond Hunt did all the late model O'Days....and they are beautiful on the water.....The freeboard may be a little high, but I think they are great boats. I'm certain a blue hull would have been painted....They were all originally gray I believe.. go buy and enjoy. Patrick
A few thoughts
Any 1989 O'Day will have been built during the last year (actually less than a year!) that O'DAY was in business, most likely not a problem...but if $$ was getting tight for the company....! The blue color on the topsides most likely is a repaint, not original gelcoat. However that may actually indicate good news, (maybe not, but...) There was a 302 at a local boatyard (where we kept our CAL 21)that suffered cracks in the topsides that lined up with the locations of the setees inside. The boatyard added a few layers of fiberglass along the cracks to stiffen the hull there and repainted the boat. Afterwards there was no obvious sign of the repair, the guy who did the work was an expert. So, maybe the repainting was done after repair work on the hull? If done properly, this repair would make the boat better than new! Towards the end of production at O'DAY this cracking was a big problem, most likely caused by them trying to build boats while also trying to cut costs, again.. strong enough...but not as much margin for error as on earlier models. A few 302s may have been bought during the Bankruptcy Auction in 1989 and completed by local boatyards or DIY owners.
Any 1989 O'Day will have been built during the last year (actually less than a year!) that O'DAY was in business, most likely not a problem...but if $$ was getting tight for the company....! The blue color on the topsides most likely is a repaint, not original gelcoat. However that may actually indicate good news, (maybe not, but...) There was a 302 at a local boatyard (where we kept our CAL 21)that suffered cracks in the topsides that lined up with the locations of the setees inside. The boatyard added a few layers of fiberglass along the cracks to stiffen the hull there and repainted the boat. Afterwards there was no obvious sign of the repair, the guy who did the work was an expert. So, maybe the repainting was done after repair work on the hull? If done properly, this repair would make the boat better than new! Towards the end of production at O'DAY this cracking was a big problem, most likely caused by them trying to build boats while also trying to cut costs, again.. strong enough...but not as much margin for error as on earlier models. A few 302s may have been bought during the Bankruptcy Auction in 1989 and completed by local boatyards or DIY owners.
Buy It
Alan, Get a survey and if all is well buy the boat. I bought my 302 a year ago and its great. I have been out of sailing a lot of years but jumped on this boat and single hand it all the time. It fast, easy to sail, stable in bad weather and I have had on problems. I have read all the stories about the boat being to light, the keel falls off, the keel shaped like and ancore ,cracks in the hull and so on. I have not had any problem and this is the most comfortable boat in the 30'range I have ever been on.
Alan, Get a survey and if all is well buy the boat. I bought my 302 a year ago and its great. I have been out of sailing a lot of years but jumped on this boat and single hand it all the time. It fast, easy to sail, stable in bad weather and I have had on problems. I have read all the stories about the boat being to light, the keel falls off, the keel shaped like and ancore ,cracks in the hull and so on. I have not had any problem and this is the most comfortable boat in the 30'range I have ever been on.
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