Hi! I'm looking at a 34 (1983) Boat seems great, except a little used, after all it is middle age! Any advice you can give me about items to look for or be aware of would be appreciated, i.e. rudder issues, keel mast issues etc. which are endemic to the 34. Thanks for the help!!
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J
J.B. Dyer
General Info
Morning Jim: I also have a 83 O34. It's kind of hard to respond to this as the one that I have was pretty well cared for by the previous owner and there were no specific problems with any of the systems. The only thing that I've had to do was cosmetic stuff. They are good boats and pretty much built like a tank, but the condition depends entirely on the maintenance that has been pulled over the years. If you have any specific questions, I would be glad to try and help you with it. The only thing that I can think of in general is that they have a severe propwalk which after you get used to can be used to your advantage. There are some partial pictures of mine under the photo/forum section about stern seats if your interested.
Morning Jim: I also have a 83 O34. It's kind of hard to respond to this as the one that I have was pretty well cared for by the previous owner and there were no specific problems with any of the systems. The only thing that I've had to do was cosmetic stuff. They are good boats and pretty much built like a tank, but the condition depends entirely on the maintenance that has been pulled over the years. If you have any specific questions, I would be glad to try and help you with it. The only thing that I can think of in general is that they have a severe propwalk which after you get used to can be used to your advantage. There are some partial pictures of mine under the photo/forum section about stern seats if your interested.
H
Harlan
buying OD34
I too own an '83 OD34. Has been a very good boat that I've throughly enjoyed. It's 22 seasons old - hire a good surveyor. Those few hundred $ should be well spent. Other than all the things a surveyor may find that would be expected on any boat, be particularly atune to water in the core around hatch and deck fills. At least on my boat there is only balsa in these areas and it was not cut back and sealed with epoxy so it depends solely on bedding compound to keep water out of the edges of the core. I have rebedded most everything and cut back and sealed the core edges. If there is water in the core, depending on how much and just where, it is likely repairable but will be time consuming and therefore not cheap.
I too own an '83 OD34. Has been a very good boat that I've throughly enjoyed. It's 22 seasons old - hire a good surveyor. Those few hundred $ should be well spent. Other than all the things a surveyor may find that would be expected on any boat, be particularly atune to water in the core around hatch and deck fills. At least on my boat there is only balsa in these areas and it was not cut back and sealed with epoxy so it depends solely on bedding compound to keep water out of the edges of the core. I have rebedded most everything and cut back and sealed the core edges. If there is water in the core, depending on how much and just where, it is likely repairable but will be time consuming and therefore not cheap.
T
Trevor - SailboatOwners.com
Check Owner Reviews
Hi Jim - I found 6 owner reviews on this site - see Related link below. Hope his helps, Trevor
Hi Jim - I found 6 owner reviews on this site - see Related link below. Hope his helps, Trevor
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Jim Pearson
Thanks Harlon and JB!
Harlan and J. B. thanks for your input and insight. I agree with JB, I think it is built like a tank. I've noticed the beginning of mast corrosion; I'll take care of that!! I did hear of the prop walk; I hope I can finesse that. Sea trial this week, survey next week!
Harlan and J. B. thanks for your input and insight. I agree with JB, I think it is built like a tank. I've noticed the beginning of mast corrosion; I'll take care of that!! I did hear of the prop walk; I hope I can finesse that. Sea trial this week, survey next week!
J
J.B. Dyer
Jim
Let us know how it works for you. I just thought of something for you to look for. There was a problem with the original alternator mount on the Universal M25 that you probably have. Check to see if it has been up-graded. The alternator tensioning support should be running under the alternator and not over the top of it. The seller should know about this. The original mount allowed the alt. to flop around too much which resulted in the cracking of the timing chain cover which in turn pumped motor oil into the bilge. There is information in the archives about this. 22 year old O'Days are no better or worse than any other boat of that era and a good survey will tell you what you need to know. The propwalk is not a problem after you get used to it. I always dock to the port side if I can and use the walk to pull me over to the dock. Docking to the starboard will result in the boat pulling itself away from the dock if you use reverse in any way. It's just as effective as a thuster. Good luck with it!
Let us know how it works for you. I just thought of something for you to look for. There was a problem with the original alternator mount on the Universal M25 that you probably have. Check to see if it has been up-graded. The alternator tensioning support should be running under the alternator and not over the top of it. The seller should know about this. The original mount allowed the alt. to flop around too much which resulted in the cracking of the timing chain cover which in turn pumped motor oil into the bilge. There is information in the archives about this. 22 year old O'Days are no better or worse than any other boat of that era and a good survey will tell you what you need to know. The propwalk is not a problem after you get used to it. I always dock to the port side if I can and use the walk to pull me over to the dock. Docking to the starboard will result in the boat pulling itself away from the dock if you use reverse in any way. It's just as effective as a thuster. Good luck with it!
A
al cooper
O'day 34 possible exhaust problems
I bought an 82 O'day 34 in Feb 2000 at Eastern Yachts in Hingham, MA. They held $1000 out from the previous owner in Escro pending my running the engine in Apr-May. When I started it up I got steam out of the exhaust pipe just below where the fresh water is injected. When I peeled off the fiberglass tape I found a crack in the exhaust pipe from the manifold to the muffler.It took a local marina 2-3 days to fabricate a new pipe with the water inlet & cost $ 515 or so which the money in Escro covered. So check the exhaust system closely especially if it has been used in salt water as mine had. My friends 31 had the exact same problem within weeks of mine so it seems to be a weak link in the exhaust if the boat has been in salt water a lot. mine has been in the salt for 22 years so I wasn't surprised by the problem in an iron exhaust pipe. Almost all 34's came with the M 25 engine which has the alternator bracket problem. Any westerbeke dealer (they bought Universal) can get the modification kit. I have the M-30 so don't have the problem but I'm told you really need to get the modified parts if the boat has the factory brackets. Other than that they are really a great boat which has held up really well over the years. good luck
I bought an 82 O'day 34 in Feb 2000 at Eastern Yachts in Hingham, MA. They held $1000 out from the previous owner in Escro pending my running the engine in Apr-May. When I started it up I got steam out of the exhaust pipe just below where the fresh water is injected. When I peeled off the fiberglass tape I found a crack in the exhaust pipe from the manifold to the muffler.It took a local marina 2-3 days to fabricate a new pipe with the water inlet & cost $ 515 or so which the money in Escro covered. So check the exhaust system closely especially if it has been used in salt water as mine had. My friends 31 had the exact same problem within weeks of mine so it seems to be a weak link in the exhaust if the boat has been in salt water a lot. mine has been in the salt for 22 years so I wasn't surprised by the problem in an iron exhaust pipe. Almost all 34's came with the M 25 engine which has the alternator bracket problem. Any westerbeke dealer (they bought Universal) can get the modification kit. I have the M-30 so don't have the problem but I'm told you really need to get the modified parts if the boat has the factory brackets. Other than that they are really a great boat which has held up really well over the years. good luck
J
Jim Pearson
Thanks Al
Al, great advice! I'm from the south shore too! Moved to Texas 4 years ago. Don't see too many O'Days in Texas, but the boat seems great. I'll check on the exhaust when I do the survey. Boats are kept in water year round down here!! Nice part of living down here!
Al, great advice! I'm from the south shore too! Moved to Texas 4 years ago. Don't see too many O'Days in Texas, but the boat seems great. I'll check on the exhaust when I do the survey. Boats are kept in water year round down here!! Nice part of living down here!
G
Griffin
Cast Iron Keel
I have a cast iron keel on mine...that can be a negative. I have some soft spots on the deck...but I'll be fixing those this season I think. Otherwise, I love her! Griffin.
I have a cast iron keel on mine...that can be a negative. I have some soft spots on the deck...but I'll be fixing those this season I think. Otherwise, I love her! Griffin.
D
Dunewood
How does one fix minor delamination:
Any suggestions for fixing what I think is delamination in cockpit floor. Slight flex and some creaking when walking in cockpit. What is involved. Is this something which should just be ignored. The boat is a 1980 and has always served us well. Thanks
Any suggestions for fixing what I think is delamination in cockpit floor. Slight flex and some creaking when walking in cockpit. What is involved. Is this something which should just be ignored. The boat is a 1980 and has always served us well. Thanks
F
Fred
Exhaust problems
Interesting you should write about that crack in the exhaust, I had the same problem on my 34. Mine occured due to improper winterization. The yard winterized it and never fully bled the system. This caused the crack. Never gonna let them winterize again. I used some furnace cement to clog the hole, it is a tiny crack, and it keeps the engine compartment soot free. I also had a problem with a cracked exchange from winterization issues. The yard replaced the exchange, also a 2 day job. Definitely something to think about on a 22 year old boat. Other than that, its a great boat, and if you buy one, enjoy it!
Interesting you should write about that crack in the exhaust, I had the same problem on my 34. Mine occured due to improper winterization. The yard winterized it and never fully bled the system. This caused the crack. Never gonna let them winterize again. I used some furnace cement to clog the hole, it is a tiny crack, and it keeps the engine compartment soot free. I also had a problem with a cracked exchange from winterization issues. The yard replaced the exchange, also a 2 day job. Definitely something to think about on a 22 year old boat. Other than that, its a great boat, and if you buy one, enjoy it!
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