I AM THINKING OF BUYING AN O'DAY 272LE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THIS BOAT TO TENDER FOR LONG ISLAND SOUND? AND IS THERE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WINGED KEEL?
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Maybe
I have an O'Day 27 from 1977 -- it weighs about 1,600 more than the 272 and I need to reef in a heavy wind. I remember reading a review, perhaps on this site, which complained about the sailing performance of the boat.
I have an O'Day 27 from 1977 -- it weighs about 1,600 more than the 272 and I need to reef in a heavy wind. I remember reading a review, perhaps on this site, which complained about the sailing performance of the boat.
Boats are Compromises
Jim - It really depends on what you want to do with it - boats come in all sorts of categories. Is this boat too tender or small for ocean crossings to distant continents - probably. Although tankage and stowage are likely to be the bigger issues. Is it too tender for near shore work? Probably not. You may wind up sailing reefed more often than not but it doesn't really matter. On both my O'day and my Catalina the standard sailing rig seems to be reefed main and full genoa or jib. If you are concerned, have a second reef added to the mainsail - or even a third. Can you get a sea trial? Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Jim - It really depends on what you want to do with it - boats come in all sorts of categories. Is this boat too tender or small for ocean crossings to distant continents - probably. Although tankage and stowage are likely to be the bigger issues. Is it too tender for near shore work? Probably not. You may wind up sailing reefed more often than not but it doesn't really matter. On both my O'day and my Catalina the standard sailing rig seems to be reefed main and full genoa or jib. If you are concerned, have a second reef added to the mainsail - or even a third. Can you get a sea trial? Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Jim, check out the boat reviews.
I own a 272. It is not an LE, but it has basically all the equipment the LE has. The 272 is steered by tiller. All the other vital statistics are basically identical. Some 272's are powered by outboards. Mine is powered by a 10-2 Westerbeke diesel. I wrote a review of the 272 which you will find in Boat Reviews or Review Your Boat. There is a list of owners of both 272's and 272LE's there also. If you have questions, I'd be happy to correspond with you about them. I'm sure the other owners listed there would be too. I sail on Lake Erie and am content with the way the boat handles under sail. What sort of problem would you be concerned with as regards the winged keel? She won't go to weather as well as a fin, but she will go lots of places a fin won't with a 2'11" draft. Happy hunting and hope you join us as an ODay owner. Tom
I own a 272. It is not an LE, but it has basically all the equipment the LE has. The 272 is steered by tiller. All the other vital statistics are basically identical. Some 272's are powered by outboards. Mine is powered by a 10-2 Westerbeke diesel. I wrote a review of the 272 which you will find in Boat Reviews or Review Your Boat. There is a list of owners of both 272's and 272LE's there also. If you have questions, I'd be happy to correspond with you about them. I'm sure the other owners listed there would be too. I sail on Lake Erie and am content with the way the boat handles under sail. What sort of problem would you be concerned with as regards the winged keel? She won't go to weather as well as a fin, but she will go lots of places a fin won't with a 2'11" draft. Happy hunting and hope you join us as an ODay owner. Tom
Only reason to own is the keel ...
Here in southwest Florida the 3ft. keel [that's when you got stuff in the boat] expands the amount of time you can sail and still get back to your dock with no problemo. And that is without the hassel of a drop or swing mechanical keel that may be a little prone to mechanical type problems. I wouldn't want to sail it in over 25 kt wind and large waves unless i had to though. One reef and a small jib will work just fine in most heavy stuff.
Here in southwest Florida the 3ft. keel [that's when you got stuff in the boat] expands the amount of time you can sail and still get back to your dock with no problemo. And that is without the hassel of a drop or swing mechanical keel that may be a little prone to mechanical type problems. I wouldn't want to sail it in over 25 kt wind and large waves unless i had to though. One reef and a small jib will work just fine in most heavy stuff.
Used 272LE is a big headache
I though the 272le was agreat boat, and was really seduced by the great looking interior in a boat this size - I was very wrong. The roller furling unti is terrible. CDI is a great brand, but the unit on the 272le is not reflective of the brand. It has no ball bearings, making it difficult to work under the best of circumstances, and when it starts to blow it gets downright dangerous. Replacement on this unit, after I got caught in 25 knots and could not reef is $2000.00 - be prepared to add that to the price, not to mention a new sail at $1200.00. Next area of grief is chainplates. This design will leave your bulkheads buckled after only a few seasons. Every one knows about this, so most riggers under tighten the rigging - not knowing that this actually puts moe strain on the boat due to increased sway. Want to know what it costs to replace the chainplates and rebuild bulkheads - try $3800. Also, the deckfittings leak badly! Add all of this up. Do you really want to buy a boat for $1400, and have to put another $6000 minimum just to get it safe and seaworthy. Risking your life is not worth it.
I though the 272le was agreat boat, and was really seduced by the great looking interior in a boat this size - I was very wrong. The roller furling unti is terrible. CDI is a great brand, but the unit on the 272le is not reflective of the brand. It has no ball bearings, making it difficult to work under the best of circumstances, and when it starts to blow it gets downright dangerous. Replacement on this unit, after I got caught in 25 knots and could not reef is $2000.00 - be prepared to add that to the price, not to mention a new sail at $1200.00. Next area of grief is chainplates. This design will leave your bulkheads buckled after only a few seasons. Every one knows about this, so most riggers under tighten the rigging - not knowing that this actually puts moe strain on the boat due to increased sway. Want to know what it costs to replace the chainplates and rebuild bulkheads - try $3800. Also, the deckfittings leak badly! Add all of this up. Do you really want to buy a boat for $1400, and have to put another $6000 minimum just to get it safe and seaworthy. Risking your life is not worth it.
Martin, Martin, Martin
You easily can get 7 to 10 years out of the bulkhead. The Starboard one seems to be a bit weak ... Had to back mine up with a nice piece of 3/4 marine plywood flush up against the ceiling. I backed it up in the closet and it really doesn't show. and longer stainless steel bolts as well ... Easy way to furl the gib is to run it behind the main to take pressure off it ... almost like you would do with a spinnaker. Still, I don't like to take it out over 20 in a heavy sea. Vic "Seven"
You easily can get 7 to 10 years out of the bulkhead. The Starboard one seems to be a bit weak ... Had to back mine up with a nice piece of 3/4 marine plywood flush up against the ceiling. I backed it up in the closet and it really doesn't show. and longer stainless steel bolts as well ... Easy way to furl the gib is to run it behind the main to take pressure off it ... almost like you would do with a spinnaker. Still, I don't like to take it out over 20 in a heavy sea. Vic "Seven"
Martin, if you paid $1400 for an ODay 272LE...
you bought a headache... A 1986 272LE lists for $12400-$14400 in BUCvalu. If $1400 is what you paid, you got what you paid for. Tom
you bought a headache... A 1986 272LE lists for $12400-$14400 in BUCvalu. If $1400 is what you paid, you got what you paid for. Tom
Vic, can you elaborate on bulkhead
Can you give a few more details on bulkhead weakness, and what you did to fix it. Also what do you think a yard would have charged?
Can you give a few more details on bulkhead weakness, and what you did to fix it. Also what do you think a yard would have charged?
Besides which...
The leaking deck fittings and roller furling problems can't fairly be called problems of the 'model', certainly not on a boat of this age. Furlers are notoriously cranky with age, and deck fittings would need to be rebedded if they haven't been already. Basically, builders build fiberglass hulls and decks to plans they design, then buy the same gear we see in West Marine to finish the boat off. The chainplates and bulkheads can certainly be attributed to the boat, but to blame Oday for the other problems isn't right.
The leaking deck fittings and roller furling problems can't fairly be called problems of the 'model', certainly not on a boat of this age. Furlers are notoriously cranky with age, and deck fittings would need to be rebedded if they haven't been already. Basically, builders build fiberglass hulls and decks to plans they design, then buy the same gear we see in West Marine to finish the boat off. The chainplates and bulkheads can certainly be attributed to the boat, but to blame Oday for the other problems isn't right.
More on Bulkhead problem
... for some reason the original design uses a 1-1/2 block off the bulkhead to attach the anchor bracket ... on my 89 the starboard bulkhead started to crack and break across the bottom of the block ... a torsion fault for sure ... conbined with the fact that the bulkhead was probably made of too thin plywood and maybe not marine grade. about a 8 in. crack through the main cabin side. We tacked about a 14 in. x16 in piece of 3/4 marine plywood on the inside of the bulkhead using an epoxy adhesive ... the 3/4 plywood is flush up to the deck and basically spreads the contact with the deck. then of course we had to get inch longer stainless bolts. The port side shows no sign of a problem ... but I think this winter I will figure out how to reinforce it as well. I told the yard what to do and they charged around $250 ... but naturally they claim no responsibility. The funny thing about the bulkhead is that it is two pieces and they don't really look too hard to duplicate. Been out in 25 without any signs of a problem. Vic
... for some reason the original design uses a 1-1/2 block off the bulkhead to attach the anchor bracket ... on my 89 the starboard bulkhead started to crack and break across the bottom of the block ... a torsion fault for sure ... conbined with the fact that the bulkhead was probably made of too thin plywood and maybe not marine grade. about a 8 in. crack through the main cabin side. We tacked about a 14 in. x16 in piece of 3/4 marine plywood on the inside of the bulkhead using an epoxy adhesive ... the 3/4 plywood is flush up to the deck and basically spreads the contact with the deck. then of course we had to get inch longer stainless bolts. The port side shows no sign of a problem ... but I think this winter I will figure out how to reinforce it as well. I told the yard what to do and they charged around $250 ... but naturally they claim no responsibility. The funny thing about the bulkhead is that it is two pieces and they don't really look too hard to duplicate. Been out in 25 without any signs of a problem. Vic
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