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Review of the Oday 23 by Endre Gastony

Year built 1978  
Location of boat Venice, FL  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
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 1998  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, I would, because my wife and I wanted to start cruising and gunkholing in Florida. The weight of the boat makes it heavy enough for coastal cruising, the cabin is large enough for two persons for weeks, and the keel/centerboard combination makes it ideal for shallow Florida waters. The amount of money needed for upkeep and docking is a sobering fact though, which we had not fully anticipated. But the boat is too large for daysailing/trailersailing and too small for bluewater voyages.  
Gear that's been added Yes, we added an additional battery, installed a battery charger, placed a claw anchor in a special pipe holder on the bow, added both anchor chain and extra nylon anchor rode, had a second reef placed in the main sail and a first reef in the working jib (works great), bought an electric bilge pump, added an assortment of electrical "pigtail" connectors, and got an Achilles rubber dinghy.  
Structural or complex improvements Added a cable from the mainsheet fiddle block to the transom chainplate, in order to reinforce the backstay (to two cables) -- a weak spot in the standing rigging, in my opinion.  
The boat's best features It has a "large" cabin for a boat of this size, the cabin is open and uncluttered, yet provides all the necessities (table, sink, burner, etc.) for cruising, and there is enough storage space. The boat is easy to sail, it is uncomplicated, forgiving, and fairly fast. The deck lines of the boat are modern -- it is a sharp looking boat that has gotten compliments. The cockpit is about the right size.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Most everything has worked well. You have to watch the centerboard pendant for wear and breakage. The bottom must be cleaned regularly so the centerboard can move freely. You must make sure that the cockpit drainage hose and the sink drain hose are in good shape, if you do not want to take on water into the hold and perhaps even come close to sinking. The portholes are not sealed well, they leak, so you must caulk! The interior is covered with a lining, so it is difficult to get to the hull. (Keep a hatchet ready for emergencies.)  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat sails well. It is forgiving and a good boat for someone starting out. It is a fairly tender boat thought (heels fairly easily), so one must reef around 12 knots of wind to start with. It is best to sail her flat and not risk too much heeling for safety's sake. It's not the most close-winded boat in the world; a traveler would really help (as in the case of the O'Day 25). The high freeboard keeps the crew dry usually and the coamings protect the cockpit. She will not sail well on the main alone and sailing with two persons is much easier than going solo.  
Motoring characterisitcs It goes at hull speed with our 6HP Yamaha outboard, though in high waves or strong current I sometimes wish we had 9.9HP. It motors really well in general, but I had to place 100 pounds of sand ballast in the bow to keep it from sticking up too high in the air.  
Liveability Two friendly persons could live on the boat for weeks. It seems a bit tight at times, but the bunks are large enough for comfort. The headroom is limited, around five feet, most people would have to bend down generally, unless the hatch cover is open. It is not a "liveaboard" boat but in an emergency a person or maybe even two could live on it for a few months. My wife and I spent four weeks cruising to the Keys and back and survived.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) [builder]  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Bought it from a private individual.  
Other comments It is a sweet boat and we like it very much. There is a full professional review of it in the November, 2000 issue of the SAILING magazine, which gives it good marks. It's worth reading.  

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