Hello from sunny Bridgeport, CT

[nauticalrich]

Well not sunny today. Like to say hello to the cruisers out there.
Would love to do some extended sailing to Islands etc but stuck in CT. where I do all my sailing on Long Island Sound. I try to get at least one or two week cruises in a season. When not on a week cruise I try to sail away every weekend to Port Jefferson and other nearby ports.

I own a great 1985 31ft Oday sailboat named Jill E. We try to attend our Oday rOnDAYvous every year. It's either on the NY side or on the LIS side. We try to make it a different location each season.
It has been held in places like Milford Harbor, CT Liberty Island NY,
City Island NY, Captains Cove Bridgeport. Any fellow Odayers out there let me know.

Well as you can see I won't post too much since I am not a very good writer.

Thanks and happy cruising to all.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Nauticalrich,
Aargh!! How did you get that bird to stay in costume for the photo?
Welcome aboard!!
I think O'Days are great boats and it sounds like you have the right size.
Good to have you here on the forum and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Hud3]

Welcome to the forum, Nauticalrich. My last boat was an ODay 222--had a lot of fun sailing her on the Chesapeake.

[nauticalrich]

I was stationed aboard the USS Independence in 1962 - 64.
Always loved the sea.
Born in the north but raised in Florida. Now living in CT but would love to be back in the warm weather for around the year sailing.
I'm sure if I was living in Fla I would have sailed to one of the Islands by now.
Oh well.

[Dougpad]

We are shopping for our first sailboat. Of course, new to the game, we get a lot of opinions. One particularly strong opinion expressed was, "Stay away from O'Days." This was from an experienced cruiser, delivery captain, and now yacht broker. He listed it as one of his strongest recommendations.

I have liked the looks of an O'Day in our marina--probably about a 34' boat.

What has been your experience owning an O'Day? Other's thoughts?

[jack7382]

Hi Rich,

welcome aboard I am originally from Danbury and sailed a little bit out Milford and used do a lot of work in the Bridgeport area.

Paul

[Morgan Paul]

Welcome Nauticalrich
I keep my boat in Port Jefferson Harbor. And its not sunny here either, as a matter of fact we just had thunder storms here. Maybe our paths will cross on Long Island Sound.
I have a blue Morgan 36T.

Paul

[nauticalrich]

I have a 1985 Oday which is what I call the original design.
I'm not sure what year they came out with the european design but a friend has one, (grey Hull) and I see alot of issues he has had.
I would not buy the newer designs.

That being said, I love my Oday and would definately buy another one if I had to. The only set back is that I wish I had a larger diesel engine. Mine is 14 HP but it still gets me there.
Diesel is the only way to go.
Sails great but it is a coastal cruiser, not a blue water. Although I wonder if you picked the right weather conditions if you could sail the oceans blue.

Check out Oday sailboats Owners Web for Oday Sailboats and O'Day Daysailers web page. They have owners reviews.

Good luck

[Tropic Cat]

Welcome aboard

I used to live right up the road from you but headed south for paradise 17 years ago!!

[hatteras]

Originally Posted by Dougpad

We are shopping for our first sailboat. Of course, new to the game, we get a lot of opinions. One particularly strong opinion expressed was, "Stay away from O'Days." This was from an experienced cruiser, delivery captain, and now yacht broker. He listed it as one of his strongest recommendations.

I have liked the looks of an O'Day in our marina--probably about a 34' boat.

What has been your experience owning an O'Day? Other's thoughts?

I dont know why he would tell you that. Odays are good little boats for everyday sailing close to shore. We have many old ones still fetching a good price here in the bay area of the gulf coast. Fun weekenders with alot of storage & room inside.

[psteele235]

Just down the road (west) in Rowayton. Can't wait to get the sails bent on and be back out on LI Sound - see you there!

[Pooby]

Looking for fellow O'day owners, are you? Well, fancy meeting you here!

Like you, I'll be eager to connect with other O'dayers, and cruisers of all types, on this board. Should be a blast.

As for the guy who was told "stay away from O'days," I'm now on my second one, and I think they're damn tough boats. Some issues, sure, but probably no more than any other 20-something-year-old boat. I love my 322.

See you at the rOnDAYvous!

[nauticalrich]

Well Pooby, hello there.

I didn't understand the comments on the quality of Oday's either.

The only one that I know other than mine was Glen Koenigs.
He did have some issues but mostly after it was sold. It's also how well the Captain takes care of his boat. I seen alot of rundown Odays, Hunters, etc etc.
You can't judge all Oday's by just a few.

I actually love mine and the only way I would get rid of her is if I went bigger to cruise the world or my health failed, I hit a rock, struck by lightning storm at sea. I'm getting way off track here.

Anyway Spring is coming soon and I'm dreaming of warm summer cruises to Margaritaville.

[SkiprJohn]

Hey Rich,
If you were on the Independence in '62 then you must be an "Ancient Mariner." I reported to USS Carpenter (DD825) at Pearl Harbor in July '63. Did a WestPac that year.
laters,
JohnL

[nauticalrich]

Ancient mariner?????

Well that makes two of us. Must be an age thing.