My wife and I are novice sailors and purchased a 272 last year. I have totally rebuilt the systems on the boat and actually enjoyed the process and learned a lot. This has peaked my interest in acquiring a smaller daysailer that I can restore and sail singlehanded as my wife and I don't feel I have the skills to singlehand the 272 (as I justify this to my wife, "I want a boat I can crash into the dock without any help or comment from others"). So far, the Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender has caught my eye and I want to know if there is a similar Oday model or what you might recommend. My wish list has the following requirements (I know, all boats are compromises, but you gotta start with a wish list): Budget is $6,000 max(max budget should get a boat that only needs a little cosmetic work, lesser price and I expect to put in sweat equity commensurate with price and condition), I like some teak on a boat and want a "traditional salty look", want a small cuddy cabin to be used for dry storage and to handle a porta-potty and rare overnight "camping". It will need a small outboard to get me from our marina creek to the Chesapeake Bay, will need to be easy to single hand for a novice (easy to reef, roller furling??) and one on which to sharpen my sailing skills, would like to keep draft to 3' max, want to trailer the boat home for restoration and winter storage, otherwise will keep in a marina slip. I am open to any suggestions, my father-in-law has a OD 23 that needs work, would this fit the bill for easy single handing? Thanks in advance for any purchase recommendations. Frank
- Status
Frank... a Different Tack
You asked for opinions on a smaller boat you feel you can handle more adeptly, but I honestly don't see that much difference between what you have lovingly restored (your very capable and forgiving 272) and say your fathers OD23. A difference of 4 feet. Not much difference in my mind. Continue to set up your 272 for single handed sailing. A good roller furling head sail of moderate proportions, a good slab, or jiffy reefing system for your main. Lead all control lines back to the helm. Add a tiller auto-pilot. Hire a sailing instructor for a few days of intense one-on-one on your boat. Practise with the instructor docking and close quarters manouvering under power, under various wind conditions. And do buy a smaller inexpensive daysailor, something in the 14' range that you can easily set-up and practise with and allow your basic sailing skills to grow. Lastly join a sailing club, or at very least continue with lessons, perhaps in a group setting. Try to crew on others boats if possible. Nose around the water, there are all kinds of opportunities to sail with others. When your confidence has grown, that 272 will be a wonderful vehicle for you and your partner to explore the water. Take your time with it, and above all enjoy the journey. Don
You asked for opinions on a smaller boat you feel you can handle more adeptly, but I honestly don't see that much difference between what you have lovingly restored (your very capable and forgiving 272) and say your fathers OD23. A difference of 4 feet. Not much difference in my mind. Continue to set up your 272 for single handed sailing. A good roller furling head sail of moderate proportions, a good slab, or jiffy reefing system for your main. Lead all control lines back to the helm. Add a tiller auto-pilot. Hire a sailing instructor for a few days of intense one-on-one on your boat. Practise with the instructor docking and close quarters manouvering under power, under various wind conditions. And do buy a smaller inexpensive daysailor, something in the 14' range that you can easily set-up and practise with and allow your basic sailing skills to grow. Lastly join a sailing club, or at very least continue with lessons, perhaps in a group setting. Try to crew on others boats if possible. Nose around the water, there are all kinds of opportunities to sail with others. When your confidence has grown, that 272 will be a wonderful vehicle for you and your partner to explore the water. Take your time with it, and above all enjoy the journey. Don
I agree with Don (what else is new 
)
Frank - I'm with Don unless the point of the exercise is simply the restoration project. I would set your 272 up to be single handed more easily. Sailing it solo (forget the dock for a moment) is not any harder than sailing a smaller boat, especially if you have selfsteering gear for when you have to reef, hoist, or go below momentarily. I would find a good local instructor and do some intensive work on your boat skills. Docking can be made pretty easy, especially as your boat is small enough to handline where necessarily. I dock my 25 like this. Approaching the dock there is a fender from the aft pulpit and a fender at maximum beam. I have a 15 foot dock line from the aft cleat around the aft pulpit and in the cockpit set up so that I can step through the gate onto the dock with it without fouling anything. At the bow I have a 15 foot dockline coiled on deck so that I can grab it from the dock. Then I have a very long spring line. This line is cleated forward, then goes through the bow chock and aft, outside of everything, and is coiled in the gate. When I dock I come up slowly on the dock, then simply step off through the gate with both the aft line and the long spring line in my hands. They immediately get cleated so the boat doesn't blow away. I then have time to adjust lines, get the aft spring set up, add the forward bow, and make everything fast. Its really simple. The fact that I can handle my boat on lines helps but I've docked much bigger craft the same way. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
)Frank - I'm with Don unless the point of the exercise is simply the restoration project. I would set your 272 up to be single handed more easily. Sailing it solo (forget the dock for a moment) is not any harder than sailing a smaller boat, especially if you have selfsteering gear for when you have to reef, hoist, or go below momentarily. I would find a good local instructor and do some intensive work on your boat skills. Docking can be made pretty easy, especially as your boat is small enough to handline where necessarily. I dock my 25 like this. Approaching the dock there is a fender from the aft pulpit and a fender at maximum beam. I have a 15 foot dock line from the aft cleat around the aft pulpit and in the cockpit set up so that I can step through the gate onto the dock with it without fouling anything. At the bow I have a 15 foot dockline coiled on deck so that I can grab it from the dock. Then I have a very long spring line. This line is cleated forward, then goes through the bow chock and aft, outside of everything, and is coiled in the gate. When I dock I come up slowly on the dock, then simply step off through the gate with both the aft line and the long spring line in my hands. They immediately get cleated so the boat doesn't blow away. I then have time to adjust lines, get the aft spring set up, add the forward bow, and make everything fast. Its really simple. The fact that I can handle my boat on lines helps but I've docked much bigger craft the same way. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Mariner
Try an Oday Mariner. It seems to match your criteria quite well. CB or 3'3" keel draft Reasonable "camping" cuddy cabin Older models have lots of wood. Popular model with lots of part availablity and used models to buy. Easy to sail and single hand! http://www.usmariner.org/ http://home.att.net/~oday/index.htm Cheers, Chris
Try an Oday Mariner. It seems to match your criteria quite well. CB or 3'3" keel draft Reasonable "camping" cuddy cabin Older models have lots of wood. Popular model with lots of part availablity and used models to buy. Easy to sail and single hand! http://www.usmariner.org/ http://home.att.net/~oday/index.htm Cheers, Chris
Mariner
I think Chris makes an excellent reccomendation. The Mariner is an easy boat to sail and trailer, yet can handle weather. I single-hand my 1973 2x2 about 90% of my sails. A roller furler (about $850.00 installed) is in the budget for next year, but is certainly not a necessity. Camping is an accurate description of the cabin. For longer stays a tarp boom tent is nice. The large cockpit is great for daysailing with family and freinds.
I think Chris makes an excellent reccomendation. The Mariner is an easy boat to sail and trailer, yet can handle weather. I single-hand my 1973 2x2 about 90% of my sails. A roller furler (about $850.00 installed) is in the budget for next year, but is certainly not a necessity. Camping is an accurate description of the cabin. For longer stays a tarp boom tent is nice. The large cockpit is great for daysailing with family and freinds.
- Status