The design showed its racing pedigree early. It became successful on the MORC circuit, and former O’Day president Jim Gleason reportedly never lost a race aboard one. Gurney gave the boat a compact, almost blocky hull, with a fine entry below the waterline and a swept-back fin keel that was reshaped in 1975.
Design and Construction
The O’Day 27 measures 27 feet overall, with a 22-foot-9-inch waterline and a 9-foot beam. Its 5,000-pound displacement includes 2,230 pounds of internal lead ballast.
The hull was hand-laid in solid fiberglass. The builder said this method cost more but yielded a stronger shell. Because the lead keel is internal, owners of older boats don’t have keel bolts to worry about.
Early boats had a molded three-quarter skeg, which was later reduced to a small partial skeg. The 1975 revision eliminated the large skeg, lowered the ballast, revised the keel, rudder, and ballast, and made wheel steering optional.
Deck coring changed from plywood to balsa early in the production run. The boats also have plywood backing plates and extensive molded hull and deck liners below. All hull and interior hardware is non-corrosive or stainless steel, and hull colors are molded in.
Teak brightwork adds warmth to the cabin. The real teak trim received two coats of oil, and teak was also used for the cabin handrails, toe rail, and companionway steps.
Rig and Handling
The deck-stepped mast rises 38 feet above the water. A stout compression post, supported just above the keel, carries the rig loads. The boat has 320 square feet of sail, and the mast has enough heft to carry a spinnaker or large genoa.
The rig is set well inboard for fairly tight sheeting angles. Its fittings include stainless steel rigging, swaged terminals, and turnbuckles, along with a four-part boom vang, a 4-to-1 mainsheet purchase with cam cleats, jiffy reefing, and a topping lift. A factory traveler running behind the tiller was a neat option.
Upwind, the boat is fairly stiff. Owners say they don’t typically reef until the wind is consistently above 15 knots. Tiller-steered boats feel better and leave more cockpit space than wheel-steered versions.
Accommodations
The 9-foot beam gives the O’Day 27 a surprisingly spacious interior. The main cabin is described as having more than 6 feet of headroom, although 5 feet 11 inches is also quoted for that space. Headroom in the head compartment is 5 feet 10 inches.
The saloon has two settees and a large folding table mounted on the bulkhead. Forward, the V-berth is large enough for two people to stretch out, and the large forward hatch provides light. A removable insert fills the V-berth. Cushion thickness is 5 inches in the main cabin and 4 inches elsewhere, while recessed dry-storage bins are molded into the berth tops.
Older boats had the galley along the starboard side. The post-1974 arrangement put the galley to starboard and a quarterberth to port, while the 1976 layout moved the galley aft near the companionway. The sink sits awkwardly just below the companionway step, and the head is squeezed in to port, running athwartships. One tester found both spaces tight, comparing them to a small camping trailer.
Engines and Electrical System
The O’Day 27 was originally offered with an outboard or an inboard gasoline engine; later models received inboard diesels. Engine access is through a small hatch behind the companionway and through the quarterberth. The shaft is mounted on a skeg.
The standard 12-volt system included running lights, five cabin lights, and a fused panel, but did not include a battery. A battery box and an inboard lightning ground were provided.
Known Issues
The main bulkhead supports the chainplates and should be sounded for delamination. The chainplates themselves need inspection for crevice corrosion where they pass through the deck. Owners have also reported water entering around the chainplates over the years.
The stanchions and their bases can be somewhat wobbly. The gasket around the large forward hatch is also prone to leaking, so its condition matters.
At the bow, the boat has no anchoring provision beyond a small hawsepipe for stowing the rode below.
The Verdict
The O’Day 27 is a Gurney-designed racer-cruiser that punches above its length. It’s quick under sail, stiff upwind, and unusually roomy below for its size, with a teak-trimmed cabin. Its internal lead keel and solid, hand-laid hull are reassuring features, though buyers should pay close attention to the chainplates, their water paths, the main bulkhead, and the forward-hatch gasket. The lack of proper anchor hardware is another clear drawback.
Pros
- Fast and stiff upwind, with a successful MORC racing record
- Hand-laid solid-fiberglass hull
- Internal lead keel, eliminating keel-bolt concerns
- Spacious cabin for a 27-footer, with more than 6 feet of reported headroom and a folding table
- Inboard rig position allows tight sheeting angles
- Tiller-steered boats offer the best feel and more cockpit space
Cons
- No anchor hardware, only a hawsepipe for stowing the rode
- Potential chainplate corrosion and water intrusion
- Risk of delamination in the chainplate-supporting bulkhead
- Stanchions and bases can be wobbly
- Forward-hatch gasket is prone to leaking
- Galley and head are tight by modern standards
