Oday Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Oday Mariner by Jay Brown

Year built	1978
Location of boat	Montevideo, MN
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	1997
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes. A few years after buying a brand new 1987 Precision 18, I bought a derelict 1975 centerboard Mariner 2 2. Eventually, we got the Mariner into the water, and my wife preferred it to the shiny, new Precision! It was more stable, could be sailed onto the beach, and could be launched from a shallow ramp (99% of the ramps in Minnesota are designed for fishing boats). We couldn't justify two boats so we put them both up for sail, thinking one would go. Naturally, they both sold. Boatless, we advertised for a newer Mariner, and wound up driving to Madison, Wisconsin to buy our current boat. It's dull and weatherbeaten, and my wife loves it because it doesn't require three feet of water to get it off the trailer, which has to happen every time we sail because we are trailer-sailors. Retrieval is even more fun, but she tolerates it since we started using the jib halyard and the main sheet tackle to raise and lower the mast. The bottom line is that I don't know of any other boat more suitable for us at this time.
Gear that's been added	Yes, I took off the original mainsheet and replaced it with with one like on the Precision (block and tackle with jam cleat and snap shackles). I also installed an adjustable motor mount. I think one of the previous owners had backed the boat and trailer into something with the outboard mounted, causing transom damage. It had been repaired but I needed to do some cosmetic work. I would like to add cabin and running lights sometime in the future.
Structural or complex improvements
The boat's best features	The Mariner has an oversize cockpit, compared to other boats we have owned. The cabin will store anything we want to take along. My wife likes its stability. We both like the swinging centerboard and rudder. We aren't nearly as entertaining at the boat ramp as we were with a shoal draft keel, but it's a lot easier on our marriage.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I wish my boat had a different reefing system, instead of the rotating boom idea. My Precision had a forward hatch, which made it easier to stow the jib, although I always worried that someone would put a foot through it.
Sailing characterisitcs	The boat sails fine, and tolerates crew antics very well. The rudder has a tendency to rise and make steering a challenge. I ditched the cable retaining system because it had carved itself a new channel. I also didn't like having the rudder tied down. I now carry a couple of wrenches to tighten the rudder bolt. It stays down pretty well but can still swivel if I run over something.
Motoring characterisitcs	I use a 5 hp outboard to get in and out of the launching area and when becalmed. It's more than enough, since the motor tends to submerge itself if given much throttle. Hence, the earlier mention of the adjustable motor mount. That is only a partial solution. The boat will never beat Miss Budweiser, but it doesn't have to, either.
Liveability	It's great for us. Usually, it's just my wife, Merideth, and me. We spend most of our time in the cockpit, but we like having the cabin for storage, changing clothes, getting out of the rain, sun, and cold, and various other reasons. The low freeboard makes it easier for swimming, mainly because it's not as difficult to get back on the boat.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	[builder]
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I got mine from a private party.
Other comments	Our Mariner may become a family heirloom.

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