Oday Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Oday Mariner by Dan Marques

Year built	1967
Location of boat	Ithaca, NY
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2001
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes.I have a Mariner keel boat model.It is fast, yet comforable and stable.
Gear that's been added	I haven't added anything, but I've replaced a lot.I've replaced the jib sheet cam cleats, and the main sheet blocks with Harken gear.I've replaced the mast head sheaves with aluminum ones I ordered from stuart marine.Replaced all the running rigging (sheets, halyards, outhaul, downhaul).Replaced the main sail's grove slides.Replaced some of the turnbuckels.
Structural or complex improvements
The boat's best features	The large cockpit, and the great performance.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I don't like the fact that the cockpit is not self bailing. I have a cockpit tent, but water still gets in there, and in a big rain it can be a problem.I might look into an automatic pump.
Sailing characterisitcs	So nice. In light wind it will still move when some bigger boats are useless.In heavier wind, it flys.
Motoring characterisitcs	I motor only a very short distance, and have no complaints.My British Seagull has gone to outboard heaven, so I'm waiting for a new (used) Johnson that I ordered to arrive.
Liveability	Never tried it. It would be like camping in a tent, and as soon as I find a destination I'd like to try.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	[builder]
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Bought from a private owner.First boat I'd bought.I thought the previous owner knew a lot and did a good job keeping her maintained - In retrospect he was a moron, and did not do anything right.I'm glad the boat found me.
Other comments	They don't make them like this anymore!In the 60s and 70s, a couple of companies, O'Day being a prime example, manufactured many small (22ft and under) daysailers-weekenders.These boats were designed to be inexpensive, easy to sail, have good performance, and be comfortable.The Mariner, I think, is the epitome of this type.Today, unfortunatly, there seems to be two types of "smaller" boats: racing dinghies, or those "cram everything into 22 feet" cruisers.The dinghys are neither comfortable, nor easy to sail, and can only really hold two people in a breeze. Those cruisers, in an attempt to fit multiple bearths, toilets, galley, etc. etc., are made so wide and tall, so that their sailing performance is junky and their cockpits too small.Perhaps it is because these boats were made so well, and last forever, and can be picked up so cheaply, that no new manufactures try to compete in this space, but I feel they are ignoring a huge market.Anyway, enought preaching to the choir - If you are looking for a great, fun, fast, safe way to get on the water, develop you skills, and just enjoy the waves and the breeze, a Mariner is just your ticket.

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