Conference unifix::sailing

    The O'Day 22 is the classic "bleach bottle" fiberglass boat. I
    sailed alot on the older skeg-keel design as a kid. Very poor 
    performance, as the boat heels - leeway increases dramatically.
    In some conditions the boat would leave a wake from the side
    rather than the stern. 
    
    The construction is scary. The hull and deck are screwed together
    rather than bolted. Most fittings have no backup plates. In a chop, 
    the hull flexes and vibrates.
    
    But we did have fun with it. Just don't go too far from shore.

    There was a new ODAY 22 brought into Galway a few years ago. The owner
    sold rather quickly after the deck/hull join parted in a fresh wind
    sail from up the coast. It was sold away from the west coast.
    My perception of this would be that it was not built to offshore
    standards.
    Regards,
    Tom
    

    Thanks folks
    I think I will keep .1 and .2 from my skipper and add more Glass fibre,
    resin and catylist to the emergency locker contents. We were not
    thinking of going to the Bahamas anyway.
    
    Gordon

    Gordon,
         I have a 1978 O'Day 22 and have had it for five years. Although
    I have heard about the complaints pointed out in .1, I have not
    personnaly experienced them. I think O'Day made a much better boat
    in the '70's than '80's anyway. I moor my boat on Bass River on
    Cape Cod where there are 7-8 O'Day 22's of the same vintage. I've
    spoken to some who share the same perspective. They absolutely 
    love the boat as a daysailer or weekender. I don't race it or go
    too far off shore. I do enjoy spending a day of casual sailing 
    10-15 knot winds and seas 2-4 feet. This boat performs very well
    for that level of sailing. My only complaint with her is that it
    will take work tacking on a windy day and 2-4 foot seas. However,
    I have heard other boats of similar make have the same problem.
         Finally, I believe O'Day was bought out by Pearson. Hopefully,
    they will be more concerned with the "voice of the customer" than
    the previous builders.
    
    Regards,
    Jack Burnham
    

    
    
    Does anyone have documentation for the ODAY 22'?    I saw a really nice
    one the other day, in *extraordinarily* good shape.    Would love to
    know more.    I know ODay was liquidated a year or so ago; does anyone
    know where I can get such documentation? 
    
    
    Thanks-
    Carol 

    Carol,
    What year is the ODay 22?
    
    We have a 1986 ODay 222, thats the second version. She is trailerable
    with an 800 lb shoal draft keel and center board. I have some of the
    original documentation as well as two seasons expereience from Boston
    to Bar Harbor. (Thanks to trailer) We currently moor off Winter Island
    in Salem Harbor.
    
    We really enjoy the boat.
    
    As far as ODay going south, parts are available through D&R Enterprise
    down in East Freetown MA. Rudy was the Material Purchasing Manager or
    some such tile at ODay when the doors closed. He just maintained the
    contacts, bought quite a bit of stock at the liquidation auction and
    has done quite well. If he does not have it, he know's where to get it.
    
    Give me a call if I can answer any more questions.
    
    Fred "WINDSONG"  297-3935
    

    Hello Fred.    I just saw your note this morning...
    
    The boat I've had my eye on is, surprisingly, a 1978.    I had lost my
    other boat to Hurricane Bob, and had been in no real hurry to purchase
    a replacement.  I have sopent several months looking at used boats, and 
    had intended to buy one of 2 Catalina 22's I'd run across. (Both 1986
    vintage.)   But then came along this '78 ODAY, and I could not believe
    the immaculate condition in which I found this boat.   There is barely
    a scratch on the hull anywhere, all rigging has been replaced, the
    engine is 1 year old (6 horse Johnson,) and right down to the battery,
    everything is in extraordinarily good condition. 
    
    The mast is on a tabernacle/pin arrangement, which is a great
    improvement over what I had before, which was a mast which had to be
    stepped through the top of the cuddy.   
    
    Sails are in good condition and are about 4 years old. 
    
    The topsides are in great shape, and the teak has been cared for. 
    
    There are *no* patches of fiberglass *anywhere*, I 'm pleased to say. 
    
    The other thing I'm impressed with is that the galvanized trailer has
    been all rebuilt.   There's a new axle and new tires, new lights and
    the wheels have new bearing buddies.       
    
    Instead of a porta-potti setup, the man who owned this boat had a
    marine head installed. (His wife hated the boat, and that was supposed
    to make it more tolerable!)
    
    
    The boat has a sink, small stove unit, table, sleeps
    4-people-who-like-one-another-alot, and the usual, for 22-foot boats.    
    Everything inside is like new.   
    
    I can't seem to forget this boat because it outshone literally every
    one of the post-1981 Catalinas I had looked at these last 5 months.    
    
    
    I moor the boat up in a rocky inlet near my home in York, Maine.    We
    lose several boats out there every so many years, because it is an
    unprotected bay. (Is not a marina.)    So I couldn't imagine investing
    in a new boat.    
    
    
    I would love to get a coyp of the documentation you have for your ODAY. 
    It might help me make up my mind about this boat.    Is it possible to
    get a copy?  I'm at AKO1-2/F4, if you can send me anything. 
    
    I have heard that the ODAYs of the '70's were better built than some of
    the ones in the '80's, but I have no idea what the cutoff year would
    have been.    Yours is a different model than the one I've looked at,
    and off-hand I don't remember what the model no. of the '78 was. 
    
    
    Best-
    Carol