Yes, but...
I would not hesitate to take this boat offshore as is. I would take our boat to Bermuda right now as is, but not in hurricane season. One was first in class in the Around Long Island Race two years ago and they were regularly employed in the charter trade in the Caribbean. They did have a problem with mast pumping in a seaway but a fix was implemented consisting of a pin through the mast at the deck. However, few production boats of any make are really outfitted for offshore work as built though basically plenty strong enough. On the O'Day 37, several modifications would improve heavy weather capabilities. Replace the plastic deadlights over the V-berth with bronze deadlights. Replace the aft cabin doors with drop boards. Indeed, make the bottom one permanent since there is no bridge deck there. The plastic ports should have storm shutters or be replaced with sturdy bronze ports. Install a watertight bulkhead under the V Berth. Put netting or some restraint on the book shelves. Put positive latches on the locker covers. Install lee cloths. All sleeping will be done in the main saloon or the V-berth because sleeping thwartship in the aft cabin when heeling just does not work. Install padeyes for safety harness and jack lines. Be sure batteries can't shift at any angle. Lay out the money for a special survey of hull and rig emphasizing suitablity for offshore. A solid vang, boom brake and proper preventer will help control the main. And of course, radar, SSB radio, EPIRB, GPS, autopilot, wind or water generator and/or solar panels, etc., as well as a sextant are essential these days. It costs a few bucks to make your standard production 37 into a well-found offshore boat but you have an excellent platform to start from. I am always reminded of a passage in the U.S. Navy's "General Specification for Ships" with which I worked many years ago: "Turrets shall not fall out of the ship when inverted."
