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Review of the Oday 26 by Dom Venditto

Year built 1984  
Location of boat Now rests on Shrewsbury River, NJ  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1988  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, it would have been our first boat, only we could not afford a new one when we started boating. Our first was an O'day 22, which we bought of $9000 (two years old) and knowing what we know now I would have scrimped and saved for the 26.  
Gear that's been added Oh yes. We added self tailing winches, additional genoa track,135%genoa, roller furling, pressurized water, additional battery. My wife refit all the cushions in the cabin and bunks with velour material, interior lighting, loran, plus numerous small items.  
Structural or complex improvements The rudder/tiller atachment, which seems to the bane of all O'day owners was repaired. I had a welder make a stainless steel sleeve that fit over the top several inches of the rudder head. This spread the tiller load through a greater area of the the rudder head. It looker a bit odd, but it kept the rudder from breaking. I also reinforced the compression post at the main bulkhead. We would occational race the boat. so we needed the forestay to be as tight as possible. This put a great load on the compression post, (only a 2"x2" post!) causing it to bend and make the head door hard to close. We reinforced it with addional 2"x2" post.  
The boat's best features Shoal draft was a must for Barnegat Bay, where we sailed. We could get into waters only power boats and smaller sailboats could go. Her sailing ability was a pleasant surprise. Being so shoal draft and not very beamy, she pointed well, compared with other shoal draft boats. She reached very well, and ran ok with a poled out genoa. Plus her PHRF handicap was 234. We were hard to beat. This boat had the 1GM deisel, with a 35 amp alternator so motoring was not a problem. No stooping over to futz with an outboad, cockpit fuel tank, and no premix nonsense. The boat had an 8 gallon fuel tank.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. First the rudder/tiller connection. With the weather helm the boat generates, O'Day should have made this better. You don't always have 10-15 knots. The main bulkhead compression post was wimpy, plus the chainplate attachments should have been tied to the floor pan somehow and not to the plywood builkhead. The rig was very light for the weight of the boat. Plus the wiring slapping in the mast when at anchor took some getting used to.  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat loved 10-15 knots. She would drive to hull speed quickly and steering was light. She tracked nicely and with the transom hung rudder, steered fast. Running in light winds she was ok only with a poled out genoa. 15-18 knots she heeled to 20 degrees and would side slip, even with board down. Plus weather helm would be greater. and with 20+ puffs she would try to round up. You needed to dump the main often but slowly as not to create lee helm for the helmsman. The stock traveler was undersized for this.  
Motoring characterisitcs With the diesel the boat motored great. Only the fact that she was a little noisy and vibrated a lot at idle. In a head sea or chop she struggled a little. You needed a crash course in diesel maintenance. With changing the oil, fuel filters, bleeding of the fuel system, and so on. The engine was a jewel, and helped the resail value when we sold her. Engine access was a little difficult. You had to descend into the lazerette to work on the engine, but it was worth it.  
Liveability With a family of three the boat suited us fine. We would weekend cruise and race the boat. Sleeping was comfortable. The head arrangement was ok. We had a portapotty that did not leak. The pull out main cabin bunk was a little lightly built so it had to be reinforced. We added pressurized water with a pull out nozzle for quick cockpit shower. Only we did not have hot water and the electric pump would drain the tank quickly. She was best for weekend cruising.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) [builder]  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any The boat was bought used from within our marina.  
Other comments I would have loved to see a wider beam version of the 26, I know the 272 was the answer, but my 26 would outsail the 27. The wing (or so it was called) on the 27 was awful. Plus O'day was hitting the skids with quality. I thought the 27 was a cheap boat. (sorry 272 owners)  

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