Oday Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Oday Mariner by Mike Marks

Year built	1976
Location of boat	Cape Cod (Pleasant Bay)
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
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	1998
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes. It's served me very well. Sails to windward in less than 18" of water. Comfortably handles 25kt gusts with double reefed main only (albeit with some weather helm). Now looking for O'Day 222 to accomodate family on overnight trips.
Gear that's been added	No.
Structural or complex improvements	New standing rigging.
The boat's best features	Shallow draft.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.
Sailing characterisitcs	In October 2004 my good friend Andy and I sailed out of Pleasant Bay into the Atlantic off Chatham Massachusetts through 5' breaking waves in 10kt breeze. Andy has been doing stupid things with me in boats for over 30 years (we're both nearly 50). It was high tide and there was 6-10' of water over the bar... I surf on 5' waves regularly... so, perhaps stupidly, I wasn't afraid. Centerboard was fully down. We buttoned up the cabin, pulled on our foul weather pants. I thought we might make it through without one breaking on/in front of us. Beach was less than 50 yards away in case we needed to swim. I'm pleased to report that the Mariner rose over one 3' wall of foam and took a breaking wave right on the foredeck without breaking stride, shuddering or in any way feeling less than totally seaworthy and confident! The bow rose far better than I'd expected cockpit filled with water, but drained (albeit slowly). Cabin got a little wet... maybe 5" of water.
Motoring characterisitcs
Liveability	Can sleep two fully grown men in backpacker level comfort. Spent two nights on it with tent rigged over the boom. It was fun, but not an experience I'd choose to repeat. Now looking for O'Day 222 for more cabin space to accomodate wife and 2 small kids.
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

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