O'Day 27 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull was hand-laid solid fiberglass, and the builder claimed this method cost more but yielded a stronger shell. Early boats carried a molded three-quarter skeg that was later reduced to a small partial skeg, and the 1975 revision eliminated the big skeg, lowered the ballast, and made wheel steering optional. The deck coring changed from plywood to balsa early in the run, with plywood backing plates and extensive molded hull and deck liners below. Teak brightwork dresses up the cabin, with real teak trim oiled in two coats, teak cabin handrails, toe rail, and companionway steps. The internal lead keel removes any concern over keel bolts in older boats. All hull and interior hardware is non-corrosive or stainless steel, and hull colors are molded in.

Rig and Handling

The mast is deck-stepped with a stout compression post supported just above the keel, rising 38 feet above the water with 320 square feet of sail and the heft to carry a spinnaker or big genoa. The rig is set well inboard for fairly tight sheeting angles, with stainless steel rigging, swaged terminals, and turnbuckles, plus a 4-part boom vang, 4-to-1 mainsheet purchase with cam cleats, jiffy reefing, and a topping lift. Upwind the boat is fairly stiff, and owners note they don't typically reef until wind is consistently above 15 knots. Tiller boats feel better and offer more space than the wheel-steered versions, and a factory traveler running behind the tiller was a neat option.

Accommodations

Below, the 9-foot beam yields a surprisingly spacious interior with over 6 feet of headroom in the main cabin and 5 feet 11 inches quoted for that space, while the head compartment stands 5 feet 10 inches. The saloon has two settees and a large bulkhead-mounted folding table, and the V-berth is large enough for two to stretch out, lit by the big forward hatch. Older boats placed the galley along starboard; from 1976 the layout moved the galley aft near the companionway, with the post-1974 arrangement putting the galley to starboard and a quarterberth to port. The sink sits awkwardly just below the companionway step, and the head is squeezed in to port running athwartships. A tester found the galley and head tight, akin to a small camping trailer. Berth cushions are 5-inch fabric in the main cabin and 4-inch elsewhere, with recessed dry storage bins in berth tops and a removable V-berth insert.

Known Issues

The main bulkhead supports the chainplates and should be sounded for delamination, while chainplates themselves need checking for crevice corrosion where they pass through the deck. Owners have also reported water intrusion at the chainplates over the years. The stanchions and bases can be a bit wobbly, and the gasket on the large forward hatch is prone to leaking, so its condition matters. The boat has no provision for anchoring beyond a small hawsepipe for stowing rode below.

Refits and Ownership

The 1975 changes brought the keel, rudder, and ballast revisions plus wheel steering, and 1976 relocated the galley aft. Originally fitted with an outboard or inboard gas, later models gained inboard diesels. Engine access is from a small hatch behind the companionway and through the quarterberth, with the shaft mounted on a skeg. The standard 12-volt system included running lights, five cabin lights, and a fused panel less battery, with a battery box and inboard lightning ground.

The Verdict

The O'Day 27 is a Gurney-designed racer-cruiser that punches above its length: quick under sail, stiff on the wind, and blessed with a roomy teak-trimmed cabin for its size. The internal lead keel and solid hand-laid hull make for a structurally honest boat, though the anchorless bow, chainplate water paths, and hatch gasket deserve a buyer's attention.

Pros