O'Day 25 Sailing on New England waters

[Southcoasting]

Wife and I are both young with 3 dogs and no kids...I asked this in another forum but wanted to get the real deal from Oday 25 owners...looking for something comfy enough for us with possibility of bringing along a few guests...I like the ability of the Oday as far as being able to be trailed but yet be big enough for a possible weekend sail.

So rookie here that just moved to Southcoast area of Mass...Been taking safety classes at Coast Guard Auxillary and looking to start sailing next year...

Been considering boats in sizes 25 to 28 mainly for learning and then possibly going to Nantucket, Martha's and Cuttyhunk.

Most recently, the O'Day 25 has really intrigued me and looking to see what you guys think about an O'Day 25 would be like for sailing to the islands here...

I understand it's not really a seaworthy size but would it be manageable to consider taking it at least that far?

 

[ebsail]

With the proper sails, a main with 2 reef points and a roller furler it's a perfectly good light coastal sailor. Meaning up to about 15 miles offshore. I wouldn't want to go in winds over 20 knots but if you get caught out, you'll survive. I've already done it in my 25. (survive) Ernie

 

[RECESS]

The grouper holes we like to hit are 20 - 27 miles off shore. We chose our days carefully knowing an afternoon thunderstorm is likely and we will have to ride it out. The boat will probably always be more up to the challenge than the skipper. I have even heeled mine over much too far and when the rudder was no longer effective, it rounded right up into the wind. It had a pretty harsh jerk coming around, but it did what it is supposed to do. I have no intention to do it again, but it is nice to know it will do it. I often forget to lower the centerboard and it sail great without it. It is a solid boat.

 

[peterbud]

I currently have aoday 222 and have taken it to marthas vineyard from cotuit on cape cod on several occassions sith no issues. You do need to keeep an eye on the weather but that is normaL. With regards to cuttyhunk I have not taken this boat ro it but I did taKe my catalina capri 26 there and also to newport aNd nantucket. On one trip back from cutty I got caught in 8ft seas not by choice. Although it was a very rough ride we made it. The oday 25 is a little smaller than my capri but should be fine for traveling to the islands.

 

[Joe11688]

Wife and I are both young with 3 dogs and no kids...I asked this in another forum but wanted to get the real deal from Oday 25 owners...looking for something comfy enough for us with possibility of bringing along a few guests...I like the ability of the Oday as far as being able to be trailed but yet be big enough for a possible weekend sail.

So rookie here that just moved to Southcoast area of Mass...Been taking safety classes at Coast Guard Auxillary and looking to start sailing next year...

Been considering boats in sizes 25 to 28 mainly for learning and then possibly going to Nantucket, Martha's and Cuttyhunk.

Most recently, the O'Day 25 has really intrigued me and looking to see what you guys think about an O'Day 25 would be like for sailing to the islands here...

I understand it's not really a seaworthy size but would it be manageable to consider taking it at least that far?

Cuttyhunk and Martha's Vineyard are a hop skip and a jump from where you are located and the O'Day 25 is an excellent boat to do it in. I've sailed those areas for years in my O'Day 222 from Mattapoisett and I also made the trip from Somerset on the Taunton River to Cuttyhunk, Vineyard Haven, and New pond on Block Island. You just pick your days and you'll have no problem. Where you are still learning though, I'd hold off on Nantucket until you get more familiar with your boat and the surrounding waters of that part of the Cape.
I've sailed a 1975 O'Day 25 keel/centerboard sloop many times on the Cape and I've found it to be a very capable cruiser. I sailed it back to our club in North Dighton on the Taunton River from Scraggy Neck in Pocaset and I had the rail buried most of the time. She sailed great. The guy who owns it now in our club, loves the boat and would never part with it. I think it's the fastest O'Day 25 in our club.

 

[Ritdog]

My wife and I bought a 25 last year, spent a little time (well, OK...4 months) rehabbing it, and love it. We are intermediate sailors of sorts, she more than I, and haven't been further than Boothbay Harbor, but are planning on longer trips with no more than the usual concern for the weather , etc.

The CG classes are a great idea. We are doing the nav class right now, and it's something else, but very useful and interesting.

The 25 has a tendency to get soft chainplate attachments, and to not be too well backplated...both of which can be fixed, but are also a bit of work. Whatever you get, make sure your though hulls / bolt holes / screw holes are good and sealed well.

It's a cozy boat, slightly squeezy, but it has a good bit of storage, and sails well.

I would HIGHLY recommend stabilizing the wires in the mast so they won't clang,clang,clang all the time at anchor. That put my wife to sleep at night; kept me awake. (We used those foam noodles kids use- slit one side, over the wires, and just push them in. Ran an extra 3-wire up there too, just for future use . There is more about this elsewhere on this site. )

Also know that the use of a gin pole arrangement allows you to raise and lower the mast yourself , easily. I WOULD do it at the parking lot / dock, but that's up to you.

Have fun!