O'day Mariner vs. 222

SailingSully · Sep 5, 2010

I have sailed my 1984 222 for 25 years. It has been a fantastic boat. Easy to trailer (had a new trailer built for it by Pacific trailers about 3 years ago) with my Ford F-150. I have also trailered it in the past with my Jeep CJ7 with an inline 6.
As far as crew, I usually sail it alone even when I have people abord, occasionally in strong winds I'll have a second person handle the jib.
I have taken down and put up the mast by myself (I'm a 34 yr old female). I put together a bridle to lower the mast to go under bridges while I was living near the SF Bay.
I have taken it from San Diego to Catalina island with my mother, scuba dived off of it and lived on it for a week. And now I have it with me in Texas on a lake. It has been a fantastic boat and I will probably never get rid of it even if I got another boat.

Cockpit is large enough to seat 6 people. The table can be used inside and out in the cockpit.

I have seen them selling from 3000-6000 here in Texas depending on year and condition.

Good luck!!
Shannon

olsalt · Sep 8, 2010

Ours is a little bigger boat than we were looking for, but had to buy it because it was such a good deal! Haven't spent an overnight on it yet, but have had several naps. The cockpit is adequate and roomy even. I like the stowage and the little bridge deck. Sailed her solo yesterday for the first time, under jib alone was a little quicker than a P-21 out soloing under main only. The reach from the tiller to the jib sheets is a stretch but using a little tiller extension I was able to tack OK. She seems to trailer fine, but has really only been to the barn and the launch ramp, total about 15 miles.

I can tell you that I feel the boat is well built, able to take a 30 knot breeze without reefing, fun sailing into the shallows (18") for a swim, and we are quite pleased and planning a few little improvements for next year. It's just big enough, and just small enough too.

Joe11688 · Sep 8, 2010

djmeaney said:
I have a 1970 O'Day Mariner 2+2 (19' 2") and really like the boat -- Roomy cockcpit for a crew of 6+ (usually crew is one to four), small cabin for portable potty, and at 1,340 Lbs. It's easily trailer-able, and has a 10 in. draft. Currently in a slip on a tidal river near LI Sound where draft is important.

That said, I am interested in learning more about the 222. I like the bigger cabin for possible weekend overnights. Couple of questions for 222 owners.

How big is the cockpit?

How easy to single hand?

How easily to trailer? (current tow vehicle,Toyota Sienna, has a rated capacity of 3,000 Lbs.)

I understand it drafts about a foot and a half.

How much can one expect to pay for one in good condition. Don't mind doing some cosmetic work, but would like to avoid structural repairs -- been there done that on the Mariner.

Thanks

Dan
'70 2+2 Mariner #2024

Dan,
The O'Day 222 is all the boat that you'll ever need provided that you don't get "big boat-itis" and want to keep up with the Jones. Theres enough room in the cockpit for four or six including you.

Single handing? You may want to install the winches and tracks on the combings as I have done on Trinkka. Also needed is a large open clam cleat behind the winches to snub off the sheets.
An electric autopilot is the next step to single handing and a device that you won't leave home without when you venture off out on the water.

I don't know much about Toyota vehicles but I'm trailering my boat with a GMC Sierra pickup two wheel drive V-8 engine with a tow package and I'm only traveling about seven miles from my house to the club to launch. I've trailered this boat with a V-8 Delta 88 Olds and a Chevy Blazer in the past.

The draft on the 222 is 20" with the centerboard and rudder in the up position. The 800 lbs keel hangs down about 12" I think. My 222 came new at the boat show with a Load-Rite Roller Trailer with 15" wheels on a single axle. Today I'm using a Long Mfg Aluminum tandem axle flat bunk trailer with 14" wheels and it does the job fine.

Expect to pay anywhere from $4000 to $6000 for a good O'Day 222. These boats plus the other model up to 40' have inferior rudder blades which were made by another company in Clearwater Fl. back then. The blades were molded to two halves, glued together, and pumped with foam. I went through two of these blades until I bought a solid blade off D & R Marine many years ago. It's held up for many years now. So check the rudder blade good for cracks and open seams.

Shannon,
You're quite a lady. I don't know of any woman who can raise a 27' mast on an O'Day 222 by herself. I'd really be interested in seeing a picture of this bridle that you put together for your mast.
Joe

Joe11688 · Sep 10, 2010

djmeaney said:
Thanks for the responses. The 222 sounds like a great boat for Long Island Sound sailing. I really like the idea of extra cabin room and sounds like its not too difficult to launch (although probably not as easy as the Mariner).

The $4,000 price is a little steep for my budget right now, but I'll keep my eyes open for a good value.

One last question, any significant difference between a 22 and a 222? I see more 22's on CL and the asking price is usually in the $1,700 to $3,000 range.

Most of the O'Day 22s had stubby keels and although they were nice little cruising boats, they lacked in up wind ability. They did make some O'Day 22s with keel/centerboards that were really outstanding in up wind ability like the O'Day 222. The O'Day 222 is a little more sleek than the O'Day 22 k/c version and also, the 222 has a sheave in the keel slot for the centerboard pendant line to run through. I think that they did this for a reason being that they could relocate the pendant line pipe further aft to make room for an ice chest in back of the step in the cabin. I really don't know this for sure, but in the pictures that I've seen of the 22 keel/centerboard's interior seems to indicate that the pipe runs straight down into the keel slot from the companionway step in the cockpit.
The O'Day 222 will trailer great with a complete roller trailer with keel rollers, but you need to build a mast crutch and have it so that you can raise it a little to enable you to raise/lower the mast. I would also build a detachable crutch for the bow rail. If you stick with a convention hank on Jib or Gennie, there is no need for a Gin Pole or baby stays. All you would need is a single sheave for your bow plate and about 60' of 3/8" three strand nylon line. Splice an eye in the line and hook your Jib halyard shackle to it. Run the halyard all the way up and cleat it off at the mast. Get the mast at an angle where you can pin the Tabernacle, and while standing on the closed companionway hatch, raise the mast by hand. Put your shoulder into it as it's going up and pull on the line to get it up the rest of the way. All your stays should be connected except your fore stay which should be temporarily Bungeed to the mast. Once the mast is all the way up, take the line and bring around the back of the mast above the goose fitting and cleat it off at the bow cleat. Then attach your fore stay. Two important things: Make sure the wind is coming directly from the stern and make sure the boat is level. To cut down on time, keep your sail on your boom with the sail cover on, stowed inside the cabin. When the mast is up, just connect the topping lift to the back of the boom and use it to lead the boom out of the cabin. It's like having a second pair of hands. Use quick shackles on your Main sheet to make set up time faster. I use a press button quick pin on my fore stay. Don't ever use a fast pin on your fore stay or on anything. You may want to install a lever type turnbuckle on your back stay. This will really make the set up time a whole lot shorter. That's about all I can think of. A lot of these things can be added gradually every year until you get it the way you want. I was very fortunate to have a full stern rail on my 222. This allowed me to mount the mast crutch to it and be able to hang my rudder on the stern before launching. I tied the tiller off to center it and I was able to use a rudder blade hold-up pendant line that I made. It's a lot easier to install the rudder before you launch the boat than after it's launched as long as the rudder is held straight and in the up position. I trailer-sailed for eight years and got away without bottom paint. The boat stayed right in my yard until I was ready to take her to a wide choice of ramps. If I had the youth and the energy, I'd still be doing it.
Good luck!
Joe

estopa · Sep 30, 2010

Hi Dan, any luck finding a 222?

This winter I had the opportunity to purchase a '86 222 from a friends father who exclusively sailed it in Candlewood Lake. I bought it for $3k but like earlier stated I have seen ones in good condition for $4k-6k. Mine only needed some TLC, mostly a good cleaning then bottom paint.

I have been sailing her all season down here in Milford. I sail as far east as Branford or as far west as Bridgeport, mostly day sailing. I did a big trip out to the Oday rOnDAYvous in Greenport LI. I can't be any happier and the amount of time I have enjoyed on this boat with my wife and 5yr old son. Just yesterday afternoon I went out with my son and had a time of my life. Like Joe indicated this is the best boat you could ever own. Easy to launch in spring and hopefully haul in about another month. Easy to maneuver in and out of the harbor. I keep it on a floating dock.

To answer some of your questions:
How big is the cockpit?
Comfortable for 6 people, 3x3. I too have the jib sheet winches on the combings. And can easily tack without having anyone move. In fact, I make the #2 passenger pull on the sheet!

They have a grand old time. If they get bored in the cockpit and if its not heeling much I have them sit up front of the mast next to the forward hatch.

How easy to single hand?
I single hand this boat 99% of the time. Helps to have the winches on the combings for tacks and use the tiller tamer and motor to set the main. In fact, yesterday I had my 5yr old take the helm while I ran to the main to hoist it up. Giving him direction to which way to point the boat upwind. He had a blast.

How easily to trailer?
I use a half ton Nissan Frontier 6cyl. I didn't seem to have any issue towing but I only towed from Candlewood lake to the House this Feb then House to Launch this spring. I was planning on trailering to RI in August but the weather didn't cooperate so I didn't do it. Also I need to set my boat up to single lift the mast. Something I will be working on this winter from the help of this site.

As an aside. You were asking about interior space to over night. Well I would say if 4 people you will have no problem. More than that many people would be an issue. Also I wouldn't have 4 people do 2 overnights consecutively. I would think they would be claustrophobic. Also note that you will only have a porta potti to share with 4

. So for my wife and I plus the 5yr old its been plenty boat for our budget. Bigger boat would equal greater expense. Hauling, Storage, etc...

O'day Mariner vs. 222

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.