The O'Day 192 is an American trailerable sailboat designed by John Deknatel of C. Raymond Hunt Associates and built by O'Day Corp.. Production ran from 1984 to 1997. It is described as a pocket cruiser, ideal for day-sailing and weekend trips. The boat is a swing keel version of the O'Day 19.
Design and History: The O'Day 192 was designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, with John Deknatel credited as the designer. It began production in 1984, under Lear Siegler Marine, which had acquired O'Day around that time, and continued until 1997. O'Day's philosophy, as a builder, focused on creating accessible, dependable, and forgiving vessels, particularly appealing to families and new sailors. They were known for comfortable and stable boats, often featuring a short fixed keel with a centerboard combination for versatility. The 192, specifically, embraced this, being a swing keel version of the O'Day 19. C. Raymond Hunt Associates designed the O'Day 192 as a recreational daysailer/overnighter, prioritizing a large cockpit for maximum space.
Sailing Performance and Handling: The O'Day 192, with a length overall of just over 18.5 feet and a waterline length of 16.67 feet, is a fractional sloop with a total sail area of approximately 150 square feet. It features a centerboard keel type, allowing for a minimum draft of 1.42 feet and a maximum draft of 4.17 feet. This design choice, incorporating a shoal keel with a retractable centerboard, is valued by owners for its versatility, providing both good upwind performance when the board is down and shallow water access when retracted.
Owners generally find the O'Day 192 to be easy to sail, reasonably stable, and responsive, though it is not designed as a high-performance racer. Its large cockpit is well-suited for daysailing, and the boat is considered good-looking. The design facilitates easy footing along the cabin house, contributing to crew security. While generally well-regarded, some owners have noted that filling the cockpit with people can affect the boat's sailing characteristics due to the small size. The unconventional setup of the jib, shared with other O'Day models like the 222, has received some criticism from owners regarding jib twist.
Accommodations and Layout: While specific headroom figures are not available, the O'Day 192 is designed as a pocket cruiser, offering basic accommodations for overnight trips. The deck layout prioritizes security and comfort. The interior of well-maintained boats can be in good condition. The design typically features an end-boom mainsheet, which maximizes cockpit space for social sailing. The interior would generally include a V-berth forward, a small galley area, and seating in the main cabin, though specifics are best confirmed by inspecting individual boats or detailed reviews due to the limited data.
Owner's Perspectives: Owners of the O'Day 192 frequently praise its solid construction and its suitability for inland lakes and coastal cruising. The combination shoal draft keel and centerboard system is a highly appreciated feature for its versatility in different water depths. Many owners highlight the boat's ease of sailing, making it a good choice for those new to the sport or looking for a forgiving vessel.
However, some common issues and maintenance points are also noted by owners. Leaks around deck fittings and the mast step are recurring problems that often require re-bedding or sealing, indicating that the original installation or sealant may degrade over time. Water in the bilge can also be traced to through-hull fittings or the lower gudgeon. The centerboard pendant rope can sometimes twist around the centerboard, posing a challenge for removal. Despite these potential maintenance concerns, a strong community of O'Day owners exists, providing support and sharing knowledge, underscoring the enduring appeal and reliability of these classic vessels.The previous search queries provided a good amount of information for most sections.
I have information on:
- Introduction: Designer (C. Raymond Hunt Associates, John Deknatel), builder (O'Day), production years, general purpose (pocket cruiser, day-sailing, weekender).
- History and Design: Designer, builder ethos (from builder article), production years, swing keel version of O'Day 19, goal (recreational daysailer/overnighter, large cockpit). No significant variations like MkI/MkII were found, which is typical for smaller production runs.
- Sailing Performance and Handling: Easy to sail, stable, not a racer, good for daysailing, large cockpit. Centerboard versatility (shoal water, upwind performance). Jib setup criticism.
- Accommodations and Layout: Rely heavily on search. "O'Day 192 interior layout" and "O'Day 192 accommodations review" yielded some general descriptions (basic accommodations, V-berth, small galley, seating, end-boom mainsheet for cockpit space). No specific headroom, but it's a pocket cruiser, so it would be limited. Need to synthesize what a typical interior for an 18.5-foot pocket cruiser would entail based on general knowledge and limited search results.
- Owner's Perspectives: Strengths (solid construction, versatility of centerboard, ease of sailing), weaknesses (leaks around deck fittings/mast step, water in bilge, centerboard rope issues), strong community.
I think I have enough information to construct the article without further searching. I will ensure to not list raw data, interpret information, and add citations where appropriate. I will also make sure to skip ratios for performance since the boat is under 30 feet.
I will start writing the article now.