Potential project boat: Silver Anniv. OD26

[Jeff B.]

A potential project worth the effort, or wasting time and money? Advice please...1984 Oday 26ft Silver Anniversary, diesel motor, tandem axle matching trailer w surge brakes; owner asking $3200. Has been on the hard for at least 6 years. In 2 hr driving distance from Springfield MO. Salvage title, boat rescued after a big storm which tore out 2 cleats and bent the mast, ruined the cushions and sails. Hull has a couple of gouges that will need to be filled w/glass/epoxy resin, but no pox seen. Rudder and tiller in decent shape, interior fair.Holly sole in good shape. Owner has kept her tarped. No instruments. No sliding hatch top, 1 hatchboard missing.Basically, she is a hull, deck, and trailer. Needs some big ticket items, like mast and standing rigging, all running rigging, sails, hatch top and hatch boards,engine refreshed, new cushions, instruments and wiring, bottom job, minor fiberglass repairs. Trailer will need work too, as all 4 tires are shot, surge brakes need repair. Is this feasible as a project boat? She would be like new when we get her done, but will have quite a bit invested in parts alone. ANY and ALL ideas/advice are appreciated!You may email me also: jbruff@classicnet.netThanksJeff

 

[MArk]

O'Day 26 for comparison

Jeff,Here's an 84 O'Day 26 asking $10.5K (related link). It doesn't have an inboard and they don't mention a trailer. You may ask:Could I fix up that "salvaged" boat to the same condition as the one below by spending the additional $7,300?But an even more important questions is:How much would it be worth to me in terms of a hobby, therapy and pride of accomplishment (in addition to having one hell of a good looking boat!)?You could probably buy all the replacement parts you need from Rudy at D and R Marine:http://www.drmarine.com/But it's more fun to beg, barter and improvise.Most things you mentioned: sails, rigging, cushions, must be replaced every so often anyway.MArk

 

[Paul Mieszczenski]

Nothing more satisfying

Jeff, As long as the hull and deck are sound structurally, it sounds like you have found the proverbial "diamond in the Rough". Mark's comments are well stated. As long as you can do most of the work yourself, $7,300 will go a long way toward basically having a new boat. After completely redoing an O'25, and now just about to complete the redo of our O'28, I can assure you that there are few things in life more satisfying sailing your "new" boat.

 

[MArk]

Nothing as messy as boats!

Jeff,I have this framed on my office wall:Simply Messing About In Boats"There is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), British essayist and writerHappy sails _/),MArk

 

[Jeff B.]

Thanks for your kindly advice...

I haven't yet decided to go for it yet...But if and when I do, I'll make a post with some "as is" pics before starting her makeover.(A friend's Mom has Catalina 25 1985 for sale for a fairly reasonable price, but I really like the looks of the Oday boats)Jeff