Just received final approval (wife) to move up next year. Current boat is a O'Day 25 which I've had for 12 years. Still love the 25, by the way. I've targeted O'Day 28's for my next boat. I will be looking at available O'Day 30's also. THe 30's maybe out of the $$$$$ range. Current owners help me out, what should I be looking out for. I did some casual dockside reviews this year (wanted to be sure this is what I wanted to do, didn't want to waste a approval from my wife, they are hard to get!!!!). I saw one 28 and one 30 with the deck discolored around the mast. I know both these models have keel stepped masts. Is the hole in the deck for the mast a water problem area? What about water running down the mast and into the bilge? Is that an issue? I saw one review that the keel stepped mast sits on a aluminum mount. Is that true? My current boat is a deck stepped mast (no hole), I have no experience with keel stepped masts.
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Rubber boot
Hi, Dennis... My O'Day 28 (1985) came from the previous owner with a rubber boot afixed around the mast at the deck. I purchased the boat from a broker in Washburn, Wisconsin and had it trucked down to Minnesota. So the yard here re-stepped the mast and re-secured the mast boot. Nary a drop of water anywhere. The top of the boot is strapped to the mast, but also has some "goop" sealer which effectively seals the slot, too. The base of the mast, resting on the keel top, is dry as a spider web - no corrosion. No evidence of water intrusion at coach roof level either. You probably want a marine surveyor look at the discoloration, if you're serious about either of the boats you saw. Good luck! BTW -- the '28 is an excellent boat. Bruce, Minneapolis MN
Hi, Dennis... My O'Day 28 (1985) came from the previous owner with a rubber boot afixed around the mast at the deck. I purchased the boat from a broker in Washburn, Wisconsin and had it trucked down to Minnesota. So the yard here re-stepped the mast and re-secured the mast boot. Nary a drop of water anywhere. The top of the boot is strapped to the mast, but also has some "goop" sealer which effectively seals the slot, too. The base of the mast, resting on the keel top, is dry as a spider web - no corrosion. No evidence of water intrusion at coach roof level either. You probably want a marine surveyor look at the discoloration, if you're serious about either of the boats you saw. Good luck! BTW -- the '28 is an excellent boat. Bruce, Minneapolis MN
D
dave
O'Day 28
I have an O'Day 28 and it has some kind of boot where the mast goes thru the deck. It's not a very thick rubber boot, it's thin and almost seems like some sort of light grey tape. I don't think it leaks there, never been a problem. Boat sails great, love it. Have repaired many small items and refinished a lot of the teak, but no major problems at all. Love the way the boat sails. dave
I have an O'Day 28 and it has some kind of boot where the mast goes thru the deck. It's not a very thick rubber boot, it's thin and almost seems like some sort of light grey tape. I don't think it leaks there, never been a problem. Boat sails great, love it. Have repaired many small items and refinished a lot of the teak, but no major problems at all. Love the way the boat sails. dave
M
Mike
The 28
Dennis: I own a 28 OD and it is a wonderful boat. You seem focused on the keel stepped mast. I wouldn't give that too much concern, but if I found a boat I liked I'd have the surveyor give that area special attention for rot and damage. My mast and deck are no trouble at all. It is true that a small amount of water weeps around the mast into the bilge in a heavy rain but it is not much water. That said a good boot around the mast should fix all leaks. I've had other priorities and the leakage is tiny. The one thing I'd warn you against is to not buy the OMC sail drive inboard. The sail drive idea is OK but the 2-stroke OMC has many, many problems. 'Nuff said: avoid the OMC. I know because I have one and it is a royal pain. When it finally dies I'll replace it with a Honda sail drive and then I'll be in fat city. As for the rest of the boat; it is a beautiful layout. Lots of cabin space, a roomy head and a nice v-berth. The quarter berth is almost large enough to sleep two. Almost but not quite. The only weakness in the salon is the galley has a poorly located sink and ice box. A bit awkward to use but still usable. The cockpit is large enough for four to sit comfortably and six in a pinch. The salon table is very clever in that it folds away when not in use so there is no annoying table pedestel in the center of the salon. The 28 tends to be a somewhat slow boat but she is solid and quite weatherly for a close haul. Overall I'd buy my boat again but with a regular diesel. You'll love the boat if you get one. I can't speak to the 30 OD but there are owner reviews on this web site. By the by a 1982 OD 28 recently sold in my marina for $13,000 and it looked like a very nice boat. Oh, and it had a diesel too. Happy hunting Mike S/B Pitterpat, Lake Huron
Dennis: I own a 28 OD and it is a wonderful boat. You seem focused on the keel stepped mast. I wouldn't give that too much concern, but if I found a boat I liked I'd have the surveyor give that area special attention for rot and damage. My mast and deck are no trouble at all. It is true that a small amount of water weeps around the mast into the bilge in a heavy rain but it is not much water. That said a good boot around the mast should fix all leaks. I've had other priorities and the leakage is tiny. The one thing I'd warn you against is to not buy the OMC sail drive inboard. The sail drive idea is OK but the 2-stroke OMC has many, many problems. 'Nuff said: avoid the OMC. I know because I have one and it is a royal pain. When it finally dies I'll replace it with a Honda sail drive and then I'll be in fat city. As for the rest of the boat; it is a beautiful layout. Lots of cabin space, a roomy head and a nice v-berth. The quarter berth is almost large enough to sleep two. Almost but not quite. The only weakness in the salon is the galley has a poorly located sink and ice box. A bit awkward to use but still usable. The cockpit is large enough for four to sit comfortably and six in a pinch. The salon table is very clever in that it folds away when not in use so there is no annoying table pedestel in the center of the salon. The 28 tends to be a somewhat slow boat but she is solid and quite weatherly for a close haul. Overall I'd buy my boat again but with a regular diesel. You'll love the boat if you get one. I can't speak to the 30 OD but there are owner reviews on this web site. By the by a 1982 OD 28 recently sold in my marina for $13,000 and it looked like a very nice boat. Oh, and it had a diesel too. Happy hunting Mike S/B Pitterpat, Lake Huron
1979 O'Day 28
I've owned my 26 year old O'Day 28 for the last 21 years. It's been a great boat. My mast has sail tape where it enters the deck. Leaks have not been a problem but I suspect that a little water leaks down the slide track. The boat is an excellent test for the longevity of the mast bottom and the mount, which are in perfect condition, in spite of the constant 2 or 3 inches of water in the bilge. The Rule bilge pump doesn't drain it completely plus I'd rather sail than play around with minor leaks. I owned an O'Day 25 previously. The 28 is much better. It's inboard diesel has no rope to pull, doesn't have to be tilted up to sail, plus it charges batteries. The head is enclosed by a door and gets pumped out, which is more fun than emptying a porta-pottie.
I've owned my 26 year old O'Day 28 for the last 21 years. It's been a great boat. My mast has sail tape where it enters the deck. Leaks have not been a problem but I suspect that a little water leaks down the slide track. The boat is an excellent test for the longevity of the mast bottom and the mount, which are in perfect condition, in spite of the constant 2 or 3 inches of water in the bilge. The Rule bilge pump doesn't drain it completely plus I'd rather sail than play around with minor leaks. I owned an O'Day 25 previously. The 28 is much better. It's inboard diesel has no rope to pull, doesn't have to be tilted up to sail, plus it charges batteries. The head is enclosed by a door and gets pumped out, which is more fun than emptying a porta-pottie.
Our 28
We have only owned it for a few months, but we love it. We stepped up from a 22 to accomodate a growing family of 4, and we regularly spend the weekend on it. We also have a mast boot so don't have much water to speak of. If any comes in, it is a minute amount from a hard rain and probably seeps in where the masthead connects to the mast (at the top). Our 28 has an 10 hp outboard that does us just fine, so can't comment on saildrives. Boat can be weatherly in a hard blow and probably doesn't point as high as some of the racing boats at our marina, but it has a cruising purpose for us and gets us from point A to point B. My only complaint is the frequency with which I bang my skull when I go into the V-berth. I'm 6'1", and you'd think I'd know by now. Just remember to duck. Good luck. And DO GET A SURVEY!!
We have only owned it for a few months, but we love it. We stepped up from a 22 to accomodate a growing family of 4, and we regularly spend the weekend on it. We also have a mast boot so don't have much water to speak of. If any comes in, it is a minute amount from a hard rain and probably seeps in where the masthead connects to the mast (at the top). Our 28 has an 10 hp outboard that does us just fine, so can't comment on saildrives. Boat can be weatherly in a hard blow and probably doesn't point as high as some of the racing boats at our marina, but it has a cruising purpose for us and gets us from point A to point B. My only complaint is the frequency with which I bang my skull when I go into the V-berth. I'm 6'1", and you'd think I'd know by now. Just remember to duck. Good luck. And DO GET A SURVEY!!
1979 O'Day 28 (continued)
The 28 takes Great Lakes weather better. It's quicker than the 25. The main negative is the fact that you must pay for a dock and winter storage because it's not trailerable like the 25. My bill is about $1,800 a year. I recommend having the boat surveyed before you buy it. Probably the main defects to look for are deck delamination from leaks and a bad engine because the boat is old. Good luck. Good sailing.
The 28 takes Great Lakes weather better. It's quicker than the 25. The main negative is the fact that you must pay for a dock and winter storage because it's not trailerable like the 25. My bill is about $1,800 a year. I recommend having the boat surveyed before you buy it. Probably the main defects to look for are deck delamination from leaks and a bad engine because the boat is old. Good luck. Good sailing.
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