Oday 26 single cycle diesel

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Nov 1, 2012
108
I'm looking at an oday 26 this weekend. I've checked this forum for all the watch outs with these boats and feel comfortable making a judgement on the hull and rigging. That said I know nothing about inboard engines. Any advise? Also, is the centerboard pin easy to get at and inspect? Thanks
 
Nov 1, 2012
108
jfschena said:
I'm looking at an oday 26 this weekend. I've checked this forum for all the watch outs with these boats and feel comfortable making a judgement on the hull and rigging. That said I know nothing about inboard engines. Any advise?
Oops, should read single cylinder
 

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
Lots of info on the Oday Trailer Sailers forum for the CB pin. Trinkka has written some fine articles on it.
It is not easily accessed for inspection. You need to drop the centerboard to get at the pin. What you can and should inspect is the CB pendant or line, that rasies the CB. Drop the CB and look at the pendant attachment and check the pendant for wear.

As to the inboard, a guy had a 26 next to my 25 last week. He was winterizing the inboard diesel. He swore by it. Low maintenance costs, few issues and simple to fix.
That said, I do not know what to look for in a diesel.
 
Nov 1, 2012
108
Ward H said:
Lots of info on the Oday Trailer Sailers forum for the CB pin. Trinkka has written some fine articles on it.
It is not easily accessed for inspection. You need to drop the centerboard to get at the pin. What you can and should inspect is the CB pendant or line, that rasies the CB. Drop the CB and look at the pendant attachment and check the pendant for wear.

As to the inboard, a guy had a 26 next to my 25 last week. He was winterizing the inboard diesel. He swore by it. Low maintenance costs, few issues and simple to fix.
That said, I do not know what to look for in a diesel.
Thank you ward
 
May 27, 2012
1,152
Oday 222 Beaver Lake, Arkansas
Records of maintenance? lacking those you should have a mechanic take a look if you dont know much about them.

Does it start? Thats generally a good indication, shows it at least has minimum compression.

Does it push the boat okay? RPM comes up to full?

Does it leave a trail of smoke? Steam?

Pull the oil cap off, is it black oil, or milky cream looking stuff? Run the engine with the cap off. Large puffs of smoke or steam? Or light baby breath puffs? A one banger is going to have some puffing, but it shouldn't be excessive. You'll probably need a mechanic or someone familiar with that engine to tell you.
 
Oct 10, 2009
1,100
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
Inspecting the pin requires getting beneath the keel. If all you can do is raise and lower the center board then at least you can inspect the pendant and feel to judge how smoothly it comes up. It would be ideal to inspect the board because being pretty light weight, they can get damaged. I remember one poster who's board seemed to have been broken, about 2/3 its original length. The pendant, pin and wedges are not a difficult fix provided you can get to the keel.
 
Jun 3, 2004
269
Oday and Catalina O'Day 25 and Catalina 30 Milwaukee
I've got an O'Day 25 with a single cylinder Yanmar (1GM1) and I've had good luck with it. Check the total hours and the maintenance records. I would suggest that you have someone familiar with marine diesels to look at it for you. In addition to the issues already noted, inspect the hoses and fuel tank for any evidence of leaks. I had a fuel hose leak that dumped 2.5 gal. of diesel into the bilge this spring before I caught it. If I had just inspected the hoses, I would have prevented the problem. It took a while to get the smell out of the boat. Overall though, these motors will give you a lot of years of steady service if you treat them right. Plus, if you get in any big waves, you don't have the same cavitation problems that you would with an outboard.

Good luck.

Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
 
Mar 2, 2011
489
Compac 14 Charleston, SC
As you've probably read already, O'day bulkheads of this vintage need to be closely inspected at the chain plate area. Inspect both front and back and poke around with an ice pic or screwdriver for rotting. While not to hard to replace, if needed, a bulkhead replacement should be negotiated in the final price.

My O'day 26 has an 8 hp Tohatsu 4 stroke outboard which works perfectly where we sail.
 
Nov 1, 2012
108
Thanks all. For better or worse I am now the proud owner of an oday 26. The boat over all looked good. Some minor damage that at some point will need attention. It was on a trailer and the engine was winterized so I couldn't run it. We agreed to some terms to make me more comfortable.

The pulpit had a slight distortion along with some cracks in the gel coat under the flange. The was no evidence of delamination underneath. Two other spots had damage from docking.

Everything else seemed really clean and I do have Casey's book so ill work on these things as I go.

I wanted a boat that was ready too go in the water and this seems to fit the bill.
 
Oct 10, 2009
1,100
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
Welcome to the world of O'Days. From what I understand, the 26 is a great boat. You will find the folks here to be extraordinarily helpful if you have questions.
 

Jim V

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Jul 24, 2006
28
Oday 26 Clinton Lake, Kansas
Checking the CB pendant is very good advice . Also check the chain plate to bulkhead for rot. Also the four nuts where they fasten under the mast plate inside the boat for water marks. The Yanmar is a great engine. I am assuming a four cycle and single cylinder 1GM. That is what mine has.
 

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
It's for the better! Conratulations! As said, the 26 is a great boat. I understand it has several upgrades learned from the 25 and shares many things with the 25 so there is great support here.
 
Mar 2, 2011
489
Compac 14 Charleston, SC
If anyone else is looking for an O'day 26' mine will be posted in the classified section very soon. We are relocating to Charleston, SC next month and our boat is in Kentucky.
 
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