Oday Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Oday Mariner by Joe Theis

Year built	1978
Location of boat	Lake Wallenpalpac, Pa.
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2012
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	In a heart beat! My first boat was a AFC 16' that I loved, got a bad case of "2' itus" and sold her and bought a 22' Plas Trend PT 1/4 racing boat that I THOUGHT was going to be the perfect boat. Nope, was just a bad case of "boat lust"! I have this one a month and am in love with everything about her!
Gear that's been added	4.5 Merc 2 stroke motor amd I use a 40# thrust elctric tramson mounted to help move me in calm waters. A solar panel set up to charge my E-lectric motor batteries.
Structural or complex improvements	No, but I think this winter I'm going to add a wood trim to the side rail of the cockpit (ala earlier models) to add some 'class' to her.
The boat's best features	Easy to launch, (I have her at a slip now), retrieve. (I do it solo with just a few lines) She sails so stable, easy to tack and jibe even in calm breezes. Super easy to solo sail. A real confindence building boat.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Hmmm, my jib lines keep getting caught on the mast sail mast when I tack on one of the cleats for the sails or a ring on the front of the mast, (most likely "pilot error"). I solo sail, so I'd like to move the jib cleats to the cockpit rail, but really nothing, she pretty well thought out! Could use some more storage in the cockpit only 1 side of the seating has a compartment, (fuel tank), the other side is solid?? Many of the other years did, but not in '78???
Sailing characterisitcs	I was lucky?? enough to sail her the first few times in some pretty good winds and gust (don't know the knots, but it was a good "cap flippin off your head", leaves whippin' winds'). The jib kept being over powered, so I dropped it and had a blast main sail only sailing. She hardly flinched when a GOOD gust would hit her, heeled, but not any "rail in the water" heels. So she is a pretty good boat to learn on or take the wife out on, she behaves nicely.
Motoring characterisitcs	She didn't come with a motor so I picked up a late 70's Merc 4.5 hp 2 stroke motor. 99% of the time I use my electric 40# thrust 12 volt motor running off 2 batteries (parrell wired),stored on each side of the center board housing in the cabin. I have the motor clamped right to the transom on the starboard side, the gas motor on a motor lift on the port side. The gas motor seldom even get lowered and wet! (the electric motor set up was left over from my heavier 22' boat). The e-lectric motor setup works great for docking, moving from calm areas to where the wind is. (you just have to watch the tiller if you have it mounted on your transom)!! The gas motor at 1/4 throttle moves her along well. She'll even move fine with just my "emergency" extenable plastic paddle too!! :)
Liveability	I haven't really spent too much time below decks. If your soloing, you could spend a good deal of time on her comfortably, but if your with someone else, well, let's hope you really LIKE each other, cuz it's a small cabin. If I were going to use her for long periods I'd invest the $350 for a cockpit tent.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	Bought her from a private owner
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	none
Other comments	She is a BIG little boat, easy to sail, easy to trailer (I use a 4 cyl ford ranger 2 wheel drive to haul her to my slip 75 miles away). I looked at a O day 22, 222 and Cat. 22' and realized this boat can do more with less than they can! My advice-buy one!

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