O'day 27 projects...help!

Project_Mayhem · Jul 9, 2025

1. need to replace the starboard bowlight. I am hoping this is a singular bulb replacement since the port side works well. is this a D&R marine find?
>>I used these as a replacement on my O'Day 25. It's nearly a perfect match. Holes were close enough that I didn't have to drill new ones. Use BedIT to seal everything. There's a guide on using this sealant on MarineHowTo.com

2. We want to remove our alcohol stove and utilize a coleman propane stove since we have the original alcohol stove. Has anyone done this and if so, what did you use to fill the space in your galley?
>>I've seen many people use butcher block to maintain counter space

5. Finally, my wife wants to rip out all the carpeting on the sidewalls of the cabin... as someone who hates carpet I am in favor of this but again am worried at the magnitude of this project. Has anyone else done this and if so, what did you replace it with?
>>I did this on my '25. It's tedious. I was impatient and ended up using an angle grinder to remove the leftover foam/glue on the wall. It makes short work but a huge mess. Dust will get everywhere if you use an angle grinder. You can use a stiff grill or welding brush. To each their own

The glue you use can make a big difference. 3M 77 and 90 have a very easy to control spray pattern but costs a fortune. I can lookup what I used if you'd like. It was OK. You have to be careful not to use too much or too little as wrinkles can occur.

The fabric that you use makes the biggest difference. I used some outdoor canvas with no backing and no stretch. The 25 has a stringer that runs the length of the hull. Getting the fabric around the ends of its complex curves was a nightmare. I spent four hours trying to get it to look good and in the end it still looked bad because the fabric didn't stretch. The fabric I used was thin and had no backing. This resulted in some wrinkles. If it had some stretch, I probably could have worked them out. If it had some backing, it wouldn't have been an issue in the first place (although tight curves wouldn't be possible)

In the end I used trim to hide imperfections. I believe I cut up the original trim to make it work

Tally Ho · Jul 9, 2025

Congratulations on your new boat.

I have a 1988 O’Day 322. A few answers from my perspective…

1) Remove the lens from the bow light and remove the dead bulb. Then you can find a match, maybe from D&R, or from an auto parts store. It depends on what sort of bulb it is.

2) What kind of stove is in the boat? Is it an Origo stove (with round canisters under the burners)? If so, these are safe stoves, but I had one on another boat and didn’t love it. There is a resale market for them, so you could sell it.

3) Removing a sink should not be too big of an ordeal, but working under any sink/counter is a pain, and more so on a boat. “Boat Yoga” comes to mind. You do need to be aware of how the drain is plumbed and if it is below the waterline. You will also need to terminate the water line(s) somehow.

4) I am not sure where your water tank is. On my O’Day 322, I have 2…one under each settee. I would imagine the tank you found is it. There may be storage under the V. There is on my 322. Interestingly, I removed one of my 30 gallon tanks because I didn’t need that much water and I needed the storage space. But I kept the tank in case I ever need to put it back in.

5) I just pulled some carpet out of my rear berth that was nasty. Pulling it out was not too bad, but it was well glued to the wall. It was hard to get the carpet out from under the portlight in my berth and out from behind the locker and other furniture. Once the carpet is out, you probably need to sand down all of the glue and carpet remnants. Wear a mask! My fiberglass is very rough and I can’t just paint it. I had to rebuild the shelf that was back there too. I am still looking for something to put back on the wall….vinyl headliner or something. I think that the trimming and getting behind various obstructions will be a pain

Greg

Project_Mayhem · Jul 9, 2025

Tally Ho said:
Congratulations on your new boat.

I have a 1988 O’Day 322. A few answers from my perspective…

1) Remove the lens from the bow light and remove the dead bulb. Then you can find a match, maybe from D&R, or from an auto parts store. It depends on what sort of bulb it is.

2) What kind of stove is in the boat? Is it an Origo stove (with round canisters under the burners)? If so, these are safe stoves, but I had one on another boat and didn’t love it. There is a resale market for them, so you could sell it.

3) Removing a sink should not be too big of an ordeal, but working under any sink/counter is a pain, and more so on a boat. “Boat Yoga” comes to mind. You do need to be aware of how the drain is plumbed and if it is below the waterline. You will also need to terminate the water line(s) somehow.

4) I am not sure where your water tank is. On my O’Day 322, I have 2…one under each settee. I would imagine the tank you found is it. There may be storage under the V. There is on my 322. Interestingly, I removed one of my 30 gallon tanks because I didn’t need that much water and I needed the storage space. But I kept the tank in case I ever need to put it back in.

5) I just pulled some carpet out of my rear berth that was nasty. Pulling it out was not too bad, but it was well glued to the wall. It was hard to get the carpet out from under the portlight in my berth and out from behind the locker and other furniture. Once the carpet is out, you probably need to sand down all of the glue and carpet remnants. Wear a mask! My fiberglass is very rough and I can’t just paint it. I had to rebuild the shelf that was back there too. I am still looking for something to put back on the wall….vinyl headliner or something. I think that the trimming and getting behind various obstructions will be a pain

View attachment 232820 View attachment 232821

Greg

10 years later and O'Day still used the same exact glue (mine was a 78)

Joe · Jul 9, 2025

What's up with carpet on the walls? I've seen a number of 70-80's era re habs where carpeting on the walls was prevalent. What a pain, shame on the previous owners who thought wall carpeting was cool. NOT

There's so many options that look better and are easier to maintain. I like horizontal wood battens, myself. But whatever you decide you might consider adding some insulation .... cork maybe, not sure about cost and ease of application, but the kids on Uma ... who have been refitting their boat litterally from the keel up for the last few years...... went with it. I thought it looked pretty good.

Some sort of vinyl upholstery material with a little stretch might be a good option. A variation would be to set vertical stringers on the hull surface to frame the insulation and battens to secure the covering. The battens could attach to the stringers, making the whole thing removable should the need arise. Big decision other wise. Good Luck.

The bow nav light? Take it apart....... is the bulb relaceable. buy a couple extra, for spares,

Water tank? if you have to fill it... it's fresh water. Follow the hoses... in and out.

If the stove has cannisters that you refill, those things have value.. I like mine a lot. you can get a couple hundred for it perhaps. But if it's the one with the little pump and needs pressure to work.... yank it out and go with the coleman.... The space is a gift to yourself . Good place for a blender.

shemandr · Jul 10, 2025

Thinking back to a post about removing the adhesive for the fabric liner I remember it was quite arduous. Poster had to use a lot of solvent and sanding. You might learn to like it!
We had three canister alcohol stoves and my wife loved them. She was always afraid of the propane stove in out H356. The pressurized alcohol stoves are a bit sporty. There always is the drama of whether you are going to get a hot meal, and if you'll set the curtains on fire.

shemandr · Jul 10, 2025

I think this is the video from the post. (My Browder calls it un-secure but the creater is well regarded on this forum)

Headliner Replacement

This is the big job that has to be done on every Beneteau First 235. When I bought my boat, this is what I had to face.. Yuck. Notice th...

messingaboutintheboat.blogspot.com

Also search the forums using keywords carpet liner replacement. There's a lot there.

Clutch Cargo · Jul 10, 2025

Regarding your bow light, I suggest replacing the incandescent bulb with an LED. Marine Beam is a good source for determining a proper replacement.

IMHO, alcohol stoves are inherently safer than propane and about as simple as you can get. This is especially true if it is an Origo as they are well made.

I'm not an expert on 27s, but my best guess is that the tank under the V-berth forward is your blackwater tank and the one located on the starboard side of the vessel is your potable water tank.

Regarding the carpet liner on your outer bulkheads (not walls), it is there for a reason, two in fact. Like you, I considered removing it and consulted with several of my NA friends and boatbuilder customers. They all advised against it unless I was going to replace it with a modern equivalent. Its primary function is insulation, keeping the inside marginally cooler than the outside, it also cuts down on the condensation when there is a temperature difference between the seawater and the interior ambient temperature. The second reason is sound deadening. The grey stuff you see on modern boat interiors is known as "mouse fir."

The only piece I ever removed was from the inside of my hanging locker when I was redoing the head and I replaced it with a vinyl covered foam scrap from Soundown in Salem MA. It came out pretty bad, but I didn't care as I was largely hidden from view. It did however discourage me from wanting to remove any more.

This "carpet" should be 100% synthetic (at least mine is), and it actually cleans up pretty well. I've used a variety of cleaners such as Tilex and Simple Green.