Will the O'day widgeon take a beating in surf?

[Steve Jones]

I have a chance to buy a Widgeon but I've never sailed one before. I like to sail small craft in rough waters on windy days. Will the Widgeon withstand a beating in surf the way a hobi 16 will? Is it sailable in 25 knot winds with 4 to 5' seas? I've been checking the net, is there a book on the widgeon available?Thanks, SJ

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

I'd look for a Laser

SJ -The Widgeon is a great boat, no bone about it, but its not the boat I'd pick for playing in the surf. I would want a boat that won't hold water either because of an open transom or because of a very small cockpit. The sunfish is ideal in this regard, but for something a bit faster try a Laser.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Brian]

Laser / Radial

I second what Justin said - in surf or rough water I would want a Laser. If you are regularly going to use it in strong winds, or if you are small, I would recommend either buying a Radial, or buy the laser and a Radial mast/sail. The Radial is a laser with a shorter mast and smaller sail. I am a pretty big guy (about 300 lbs), but with a well-trimmed Laser in 25 kts wind I was having difficulty keeping upright even hiking as far out as I could.If you do buy a Laser, and find yourself in winds a bit too intense, one trick I learned is to undo the outhaul, turn the sail around the mast two or three times, then reconnect and tighten the outhaul. This is a very effective reefing method I learned later.Brian