| My brother-in-law keeps an O'Day 192 -- another "Halcyon" :-( -- at
DeMilla's in Portland, which we sailed just this past Saturday around the
Diamonds in Casco Bay.
The hull is pretty good, for that size of craft and accommodation level,
and is pretty well built, it seems. The layout is very workable, and the
cockpit quite comfortable. That's the good news.
Unfortunately, the rig is pretty Mickey Mouse. Main sheeting is from the
backstay, and mounted high enough to clear tiller and cockpit activity,
but also high enough that there's little vanging value. The roller
furling jib is point-sheeted, and also very much on the flimsy side.
Fittings are apparently lightest weight stainless, and over the three
years he's had the boat, Jack's bent/lost/broken a good many of them.
Were I to decide it was the boat of my dream, I'd sooner or later have to
spend the money and rerig.
The rudder is a hinged affair, which one lashes in the down position.
Since the articulated part of the rudder floats, you can't unlash it just
in case you hit something, unless you want 2.5 ft of rudder trailing
behind. Again, not all that well engineered from my p.o.v., but then
I don't focus on trailering ease as a primary concern.
Sail one and see for yourself; there are quite a few for sale on the used
market, I hear. For comparison, check back issues of Small Boat Journal
-- about every third issue they run a small cruising boat comparison, and
in the past two or three years have covered dozens of boats you might find
potentially interesting to consider.
J.
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| As one who owns a 19' boat with similar purposes in mind, I would
recommend you look at the 19' COM-PAC Yacht. I have owned a COM-PAC
19 -II (20 foot w/ bowsprit), since 1985, which is when they began
making the 19-II. Earlier models are 19' and do not have the bowsprit
and soem of the other detailing, but are otherwise the same boat.
The COM-PAC Yachts are ruggedly built - I have not seen another
19' as solid. They are a very stable boat with 800 lbs of ballast
(40% of total displacement) in a fixed shoal draft keel, which only
draws 2 feet. They probably don't win any prizes in pointing ability,
but unless you are racing, that shouldn't be a big deal for your
application. We weekend several times a year with our 2 teen agers
- (yes, that is very cozy) on Lake Winnipesaukee.
This is a heavy boat to tow for a 19' The boat is 2000 lbs, plus
gear, plus trailer. You would not want to try to tow it with a small
car. My Isuzu Trooper (with small 4 cylinder) is barely adequate
to tow it up to the lake in the spring and home agian in the fall.
I know of mayn very satisfied COM-PAC owners. You will usually find
several used oned advertised in OFFSHORE. Fernald's in Newburyport
Mass is a dealer. They are produced by Hutchins Co. In Clearwater
Fla. My 1981 CON-PAC 16 was serial # 1633 and my 1985 COM-PAC 19-II
is serial # 311. COM-PAC also produces a 23' and a 27' model.
The newer Mark-II models in 19' and above have kitchenette modules
(of sorts) available.
Other boats in this size I would also consider include the West
Wight Potter.
A good paperback you might pick up (Large - 8.5x11 size) is titled
something like "Cruising on a Micro Budget" It surveys many of the
micro cruisers. It has been advertized
by Dolphin book club as well as the book outlet in Camden Me.
I think I have also seen it in local bookstores.
Happy sailing. Let us know what you wind up with.
Bill
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| The O'Day 19 replaced the Mariner (the 192 may be a second generation
replacement) and the Mariner was based on the Rhodes 19 hull. The Rhodes 19
and Mariner are now built by Stuart Marine in Maine and you may wish to check
with them. I haven't seen a Stuart built Mariner, but the Stuart Rhodes looks
to me to be a high quality boat. Certainly the Rhodes hull is a very proven
design and I know the Mariner was also very popular. The sailing club I used
to sail with had one Mariner and I know the owners were very pleased with
their boat, often travelled with it, and were also unimpressed by its
successor.
The Rhodes 19 is offered in keel and centerboard versions, I'm not sure what
is offered on the Mariner.
- Bob
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