Howdy: Am considering purchasing an O'Day 27, 1978. What are the points of concern that I should look for specific to the 27? Here's what I'm definitely keeping an eye out for based on generalized experience with other boats- bulkheads chainplates leaking compression post damage at bottom signs deck hardware needs rebedding deck soft spots ports leaking; how is the cabin wall constructed? mast step Any pointers and tips appreciated. Thanks in advance, Joe
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specific to O'Day 27, not sure, but . . .
Get the owner to take you out for a sea trial. If you like it, haul it out and get a reliable surveyor to check it out. If you cant do the surveyor, you will have to find the problems yourself. If you can do the surveyor, he can point things out that you would have overlooked. In any event, expect to pay much more than you are thinking now to fix what could be broken. Some of my thoughts, Seriously consider replacing the standing rigging now or the standing rigging and the mast later. Expect problems with the head--even if it is just stinky. Look closely at the wiring, fuses, everything, and see whether there is any corrosion, cracks, fires. Do they all work? Running wiring is a pain and the wire isn't cheap. What electronics do you need, etc. Minimum IMO is depthsounder and radio. Read up on blisters and fiberglass hulls. There are several schools of thought floating around. I don't know which one is "right," but it does good to know what others are thinking about. Read up a lot on blisters. This boat will probably have them and you need to learn how to identify them (from outside and from looking at the inside of the hull) and decide whether this 27 is the one you really want. Did I say read up a lot on blisters? Yeah, I thought so. Buy Epoxy by the gallon and look for fiberglass on ebay. You getting lifejackets and cushions? Speaking of cushions, boat cusions are expensive so if they are missing, well . . . It may not apply to you, but I would recommend that you look for a boat that is in good shape with all the pieces instead of buying a boat and having to refit it with new hardware, even if you have to drive a long way to get it.
Get the owner to take you out for a sea trial. If you like it, haul it out and get a reliable surveyor to check it out. If you cant do the surveyor, you will have to find the problems yourself. If you can do the surveyor, he can point things out that you would have overlooked. In any event, expect to pay much more than you are thinking now to fix what could be broken. Some of my thoughts, Seriously consider replacing the standing rigging now or the standing rigging and the mast later. Expect problems with the head--even if it is just stinky. Look closely at the wiring, fuses, everything, and see whether there is any corrosion, cracks, fires. Do they all work? Running wiring is a pain and the wire isn't cheap. What electronics do you need, etc. Minimum IMO is depthsounder and radio. Read up on blisters and fiberglass hulls. There are several schools of thought floating around. I don't know which one is "right," but it does good to know what others are thinking about. Read up a lot on blisters. This boat will probably have them and you need to learn how to identify them (from outside and from looking at the inside of the hull) and decide whether this 27 is the one you really want. Did I say read up a lot on blisters? Yeah, I thought so. Buy Epoxy by the gallon and look for fiberglass on ebay. You getting lifejackets and cushions? Speaking of cushions, boat cusions are expensive so if they are missing, well . . . It may not apply to you, but I would recommend that you look for a boat that is in good shape with all the pieces instead of buying a boat and having to refit it with new hardware, even if you have to drive a long way to get it.
Blister's VS Pox's
It was and is my understanding that Blisters are not much of a problem with boats built in the early 70’s . Blister did not start to become a real concern and problem until the 1980 when the EPA forced a reformulation of polyester resin’s, and POX started showing up. Almost all Fiberglass boats will have a few blisters and that’s nothing to be real concerned about. But when the blisters turn into POX then you have a problem. I did find a few blisters when I first bought my 1976 O’Day 27 “there was only 4” I never fixed them and 10 years later there are still only 4 and they have not gotten any bigger or worse, on the other hand I have looked at a lot of 1980’s Catalina's and Hunter's and almost all had what could be best described as POX hundreds of blisters.. I If you are looking at a 1970 era O’Day and find a few to a hand full of blisters I would not consider it a problem, although you should use it while negotiating the purchase price I did and managed to get my O’Day 27 for under 4k, 10 years ago. All because I made a big deal about 4 small blisters, the rest of the boat was Bristol. I never had to put a dime into fixing any existing problems and only about 2K in upgrades. I get offers on her all the time, Last week I was offered 10K for her. This same guy started out at 7K last year. She is not for sale as I let my son use her, I have moved up to an 1984 O’Day 34. By the way both are side by side in the same Marina and it’s a beautiful site
It was and is my understanding that Blisters are not much of a problem with boats built in the early 70’s . Blister did not start to become a real concern and problem until the 1980 when the EPA forced a reformulation of polyester resin’s, and POX started showing up. Almost all Fiberglass boats will have a few blisters and that’s nothing to be real concerned about. But when the blisters turn into POX then you have a problem. I did find a few blisters when I first bought my 1976 O’Day 27 “there was only 4” I never fixed them and 10 years later there are still only 4 and they have not gotten any bigger or worse, on the other hand I have looked at a lot of 1980’s Catalina's and Hunter's and almost all had what could be best described as POX hundreds of blisters.. I If you are looking at a 1970 era O’Day and find a few to a hand full of blisters I would not consider it a problem, although you should use it while negotiating the purchase price I did and managed to get my O’Day 27 for under 4k, 10 years ago. All because I made a big deal about 4 small blisters, the rest of the boat was Bristol. I never had to put a dime into fixing any existing problems and only about 2K in upgrades. I get offers on her all the time, Last week I was offered 10K for her. This same guy started out at 7K last year. She is not for sale as I let my son use her, I have moved up to an 1984 O’Day 34. By the way both are side by side in the same Marina and it’s a beautiful site
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