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Review of the Oday 28 by Michael McGuire

Year built 1981  
Location of boat Rowayton, CT  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength Press here to select  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1995  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Ask me at the end of summer. Recently redid bottom, took it down to gel coat and new paint/filler etc. I will be racing in evening series off Norwalk Islands. I just bought a new Light One - Pentax from Quantum. Adding adjustable backstay to get head stay sag out. To answer question - If we do ok in racing than I might consider buying. Some problems - headroom -I'm 6'2" Can't fit on double berth with my wife  
Gear that's been added Racing cut number one 153% new head roller furling dodger  
Structural or complex improvements Not yet. If she races ok and sail to rating than I'll do the following Adjustable jib cars - great for roller furling Propane stove cut out cushions so I can fit in berth add ventalation which is poor at best cut in port in quater berth add folding swim platform to stern replace traveler Almost forgot this one. We had all the old electronic cables claning around in the mast. Solved the problem with minimal hassel, no drilling and only $15 dollars worth of material. With mast out for winter storage I did the following hung a very thin 1x 19 wire inside the mast from the mast truck (very easy to remove) to this wire I taped the electronic wires so they would not stretch and break. Next I pulled the 1x19 wire with electonic cables through 1/2 inch foam water pipe insulation material (Home Depot. Now the wires still move around inside the mast but I can't hear them. I drilled no holes except to tap the truck to attach the 1x19. The electonics should be sound given that their feed are well supported. And I can sleep!!!  
The boat's best features This boat continues to impress me. I've been racing for years, from Finns to frostbiting to 5 Bermuda races and did a stint as charter captain in carrabean. Every time I took this boat out I was impressed with its volume, stability, speed (can you believe that!) on a reach/run and all around crusability. She goes to weahter like and old dog. I have done some research and I feel that with the right sails and sail handeling equipment - good traveler, stong backstay to remove headstay sag, good racing headsails and along whisker pole- for non-spin racing, this boat might be a sleeper in the 8-12 knot ranges. I'll let you know as the season progresses.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Cocpit floor has high moister content. manual bilge pump hose is holed somewhere, I can't pull a suction. The fuel guage does not work. Here is a problem that I can't yet solve. I have to pour fuel (diesel) very very slowly into the tank or else the fuel spills out the vent. I can take me up to 10 minutes to put in 5 gallons. The vent line is not Kinked or bent. Any thoughts?  
Sailing characterisitcs Fairly fast on all points of sail except on the wind. For downwind us very long whisker pole to pole out headsail or you will go no where. This boat is light and can move downwind if you give her enough sail. We have crusing sails (1996) made by Hathaway Reiser and Raymond (good loft in Stamford CT) with 135 roller furling. Still this boat can't point and is slow, slow, slow to weather. I feel this is due to headstay sag (remove with easy to install adjustable backstay - remove part of split backstay and install 4 to one quickvang and pull real hard). Good travel played (by driver) to keep the boat flat - 15 degrees max. Get rid of heavy weather helm by shortening headstay. And use very well cut racing sails. Next year if all goes well a folding prop! I am in the middle of doing all the above after a complete bottom job. I am betting that doing the above will bring this boats upwind performance on par with her reaching and running capabilities. A wolf in sheeps clothing? Well Ok a hungry dog in sheeps clothing.  
Motoring characterisitcs Univeral 11 hp diesel - twin blade prop. Not bad for getting in and out of a harbor. Will move along at a fast walk in calm seas. suggest motorsailing in chop. Great control in tight spots. turns on a dime. Backs to port. I just replaced stuffing box flax. I did not need it after 19 years.  
Liveability A definte candidate for easy upgrades. One of the better interiors for a late 1970-early 1980 small boat. Open plan. Ventilation very poor. the dodger has made the livability of this boat increase 100 percent. Don't be fooled by those who say the cocpit traveler prevents installation of a dodger. Get a drill and move the main sheet bails back several inches. Go ahead, be brave - the boom is massively overbuilt.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) [builder]  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any  
Other comments Great boat for what it was designed to do - performace crusing in protected waters. A great candidate for the young family who what to have a great life adventure by small boat sailing in LI sound, chesapeak, great lakes etc. Easy maintenance leaves more time for all the other stuff. Easy to sail, easy to upgrade, small on the wallet, runs and raches very well and with a modest outlay of cash, she might even go to weather fast enough to win a pickel dish or two. Best for people under 5'10 inches.  

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