Oday Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Oday Daysailer by Roger Conrad

Year built	1974
Location of boat	Riding Mountain National Park
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	2002
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	I traded a friend this boat for a cedar strip canoe I had built. He had two other bigger sailboats, (a Siren and a C
Gear that's been added	I have since added spinnaker gear, a boarding ladder, compass, anchor, boom vang, anchor chocks, midship cleats, burgee, fire extinguisher, and plan to install roller furling. This was mostly stuff that had been stored for years from my previous boat, or stuff I had around the house. I also added a sleeping pad pulled from an old stretcher. It works well on the beach, under the trailered boat for repairs, acts as a cushion for the gunwale when it is careened, and fits inside the cuddy so that I can seek protection in relative comfort during a heavy downpour or hailstorm. (Heaven forbid!) I also use a GPS aboard, that fastens with hook and loop type fastener to the top of the centreboard trunk. I also carry an insulated water jug, tools, extra line, repair parts, extra blocks etc. I also added a topping lift and sailcovers.
Structural or complex improvements	The boweye had broken years ago, so I made a hole through the forward bulkhead to access the back of a new boweye, and installed an inspection port to cover the hole. This access also allows me to reach in to the underside of the stemplate to attach the roller furling gear backing plate.I moved the motor mount from the starboard to port side, as this gave me better access to the motor controls including the starter recoil and gear shifter.As well there was need for cosmetic sanding and filling along the gunwale and hull amidships and ahead of the centreboard slot where years of wear had ground away at the gelcoat. There had been a previous repair made, but it had not been sanded smooth.I also added a pin to the fin of the motor so that it would strike the rudder first and prevent the prop from nicking it. I had to fill several cracks in the prop side of the rudder.I refinished the tiller, and replaced the cuddy hatch. I also added a strap to secure the cooler lid so that I would not loose my refreshments in a knockdown.
The boat's best features	Long, low, light, agile, spirited, yet safe, and easy to single hand. As well it is large enough to take a spinnaker and motor, and has ample space for storage in the cuddy.As well it is easy to trailer. Mostly it is just the right size and vintage, that I can putter on it and make changes without feeling that I am degrading the boat.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I wish it had larger cockpit lockers and a slightly larger cabin like the DS 16. I also find that the centreboard trunk leaks and will need a refit of the up and downhaul to seal against leakage into the bilge. If this refit is successful, I hope to install a large inspection port in the floor of the cuddy to store extra gear. I may install nav lights if I go to a motor with an alternator.The self bailer does not often live up to its name or function.
Sailing characterisitcs	It sails well in all conditions that I have experienced on this lake, including white caps of a couple or three feet, which is about as bad as this lake can get. It the lake gets any worse, launching and retrieval would be difficult.Sometimes with inattention while tending to the clew outhaul and holding the tiller between my knees, it heels enough to take on water over the lee quarter near the stern without my noticing until my feet are wet. (see self bailer issue above.)
Motoring characterisitcs	It motors very well, and 5hp is adequate to get it up to 10 mph. With the tiller and throttle on the motor tightened up and snug, the tiller of the boat can be used for steering.
Liveability	This would not be a comfortable sleep aboard. Both my head and feet just barely touch each bulkhead and the sleeping pad needs to be fairly narrow to fit alongside the mast. I also don't think there would be very good ventilation with the cuddy doors closed. It would be adequate in an emergency or seeking refuge from the weather for a short time. Climbing in and out of the cuddy would be awkward.Livability in actuality would be greatly enhanced if the boat was used for storage, and camping occured on shore in a proper tent.
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	I think of it as someone else so eloquently described it. It is the volkswagon of the small boat fraternity. It has it's own ideocyncrasies, but is well loved by a small but dedicated following.

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