Oday 322 vs 35

[BarryL]

Hello,For the same amount of money, which boat would you prefer,the 322 or the 35? Why?I'm looking for a 32-35 ft boat. It must have a swim platform,sleeping for 6, easy to sail single handed. Oh year, it mustalso be under $40K.Thanks,Barry

 

[J.B. Dyer]

Room

Afternoon Barry:With the needs of 6, I believe that I'd go with the 35, you would have two more feet of lwl and 7" more beam. That may not sound like much, but in the confined space of a sail boat, it could be a bunch depending on your needs.. The 34/35 sleeps 6 easily, but is still crowded when everyone is moving around at the same time. That additional two feet could come in handy.

 

[Jeff]

Sleeps 6

Barry,I have a 322 and can tell you it has more room then most 35s I have seen. I am not sure about an O'day 35 but I do not think the 35 has a seperate aft cabin like the 322. The 322 is a very open an airy layout. The 322 will also sleep six, but they better have a sense of humor and like J.B. said, it gets a little crowded in the morning. We have done it twice.Easy to sail singlehanded.We love ours.Good luck Jeff

 

[J.B. Dyer]

Jeff

The 34/35 has a quarter berth on the starboard side that will sleep two kids or one adult. The settee on the port side pulls out into a double and the settee on the starboard side will sleep one. The v berth, of course, will sleep two.Sleeping is not the problem, it's when every one is up stirring around. My wife and I are empty nesters and 99.9 percent of the time we are at the boat by ourselves. On the 34/35, with two people, there is ample room for just about any thing. Occasionally, she will invite some of her girl buddies to come for the weekend. That's spooky, and aside from sleeping, I just stay up on deck and out of the way, too much estrogen.To be honest, if I had to entertain and house 6, I'd be looking for a much larger boat, but I understand financial restraints. Barry is going to have to shop these models out and try them on for size and decide which one he can live with. They are both good boats. Barry, if you read this and haven't seen the 35, there is not much to the swim platform. The 35 is a 34 with a little ledge built onto the stern, but it is a platform.

 

[Jeff]

Point Taken

J.B.Point taken in that it is mostly my wife and I on ours as well.We like to say the 322 sleeps 4, comfortably feeds 6, and can party with 12 below (very crowded). The swim platform on the 322 is also not a walk through and is also a somewhat small platform.I agree both are good boats to consider.JeffGood luck Barry

 

[BarryL]

clarification

Hello,Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.Regarding my requirements, the boat will be used primarily for daysailing (Long Island Sound) with five people (me, my wife, and 3 kids, 4, 7, 10). I do plan on weekend trips, sometimes with another kid or two. I don't expect palacial accomodations, but everyone needs a bunk. We're used to traveling with a motorhome, so we can get along in a small space.I currently have a Newport 28. I'm very happy with it but it is missing some features:1. There is no swim platform. During the summer we like to anchor and swim. The Newport has a rear boarding ladder which requires you to climb from the water up the ladder and over the rear pushpit. It's not a problem for me, but it is difficult if not impossible for my kids. Also, the boat is on a mooring so we row out to it. With the Newport you have to climb up from dink and over the side. I want a rear platform to make getting on and off the boat easier. I would prefer a walk through transom like the new boats have, but they are out of my price range.2. We have overnighted in the Newport. Everyone has a bunk, but by the time all the gear is below, and the bunks are prepared for sleeping, there is no room to move! I think that a few extra feet would go a long way.3. The head in the Newport is small. Real small. I'm not large (5'7" 175 lbs) but I can barely turn around in there.In looking at other boats the O'day 35 and the 322 caught my eye. The 35 seems to offer great sailing performance and it has the rear swim playform I am looking for. The 322 is a more modern design, and I like the separate aft cabin and head. Since both boats are approximately the same price I wonder which one would be batter. The 35 has the advantage of size and should be faster. The 322 is more modern.So which one would you pick?Thanks!Barry

 

[Dave]

O'Day 35

Barry,I've owned a 35 for 9 years now. The boat is great. I've been on a 322 but never sailed one. The aft cabin had little ventilation and the boat was not well cared for. It smelled really bad in the aft cabin. The platform on the 35 makes getting in and out of dinghy's a breeze, you still have to climb over the pulpit but a small lifeline and a fold down step make that easy. The boat sails great in 12 - 20 knots of wind. In light air it kind of bogs down but once it kicks up it goes like crazy. I cruise at about 7.3 knots upwind in 16 - 20 knots of wind. I often hit over 8 knots and topped out at 9 once on a reach with a little assist from small waves. I use a cruising spinnaker for light air up to about 10 knots for off the wind to reaching conditions. The boat has very good initial stability so it takes a lot of wind to put her rail in the drink. My rule of thumb is not to heel over 20 degrees anyway or the boat is overpowered.For the same money I would go for the 35. Dave

 

[J.B. Dyer]

Barry

Dave's description of the way the 35 handles is right on the money. I have a 34, but as I said before, they are the same boat with the exception of the swim platform. I'm with him also on choice. The 34/35 is a good solid ride and can handle high winds, and contrary to what you read about off shore use, are very capable of handling deeper off shore water should you ever decide to get that far out. The 32.2 is of more modern design, but, the old traditional design of the 34/35 is hard to beat. I have a lot of confidence in the design and it's ability to handle high wind and rough water.Your call, you'll not go wrong with either of them.

 

[DaveM10278]

Either one will meet your need

Barry, The 322 would suit you fine for two adults and 3 or 4 kids. I own a 322 and have taken it to Block Island from Stamford with 6 adults on board. Each had there own bunk. I think either one is a good choice and price / condition / availability may be your biggest problem. Either way, I don¡¯t think that you will go wrong. By the way, welcome to the O¡¯Day family!Dave