The design favors weekend overnights and sheltered-water cruising rather than outright racing. It’s a compact coastal cruiser shaped around interior volume, shallow-water access, and easy launching—not heavy-air athleticism.
Design and Construction
The 272 measures 26.92 feet overall, with a 22.92-foot waterline and a 9-foot beam. It displaces 5,375 pounds and carries 1,930 pounds of ballast. Construction consists of a solid fiberglass hull and a wing keel drawing just 2.92 feet.
That shallow keel marks the boat as a reworking of the O'Day 27 for skinny water and trailer-friendly storage rather than maximum upwind bite. The 35.9 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio places the lead low in a modest package, while the 9-foot beam provides more interior width than the boat’s length might suggest.
With a displacement-to-length ratio near 199 and a comfort ratio around 18, the 272 is a small, steady coastal hull rather than a lithe racer. Its shallow draft is central to the design, trading absolute stability for access to creeks and shallow harbors that deeper 27-foot contemporaries can’t reach.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 272 carries a masthead sloop rig with a 30.83-foot foretriangle and a 26.08-foot mainsail luff. Total sail area is 299 square feet—enough to drive the 5,375-pound hull to a theoretical 6.4 knots and, in practice, support comfortable passages at 5–6 knots in moderate winds.
Owners praise its well-balanced helm and forgiving motion in chop. A Great Lakes owner of the later 272LE reports that the balance holds when the mast is tuned correctly. That owner says the boat sails better to weather and on points from close-hauled to a broad reach than it does on a dead run, where it can lag seriously.
The same owner reports speeds of more than 6 knots on favorable points in a good breeze, as well as an easy 5–5.5 knots when reefed with either a reefed genoa or a reefed main. The LE’s outboard-rudder and wheel configuration is described as unusual but workable, although the owner concedes that the 272 feels a bit light for Lake Erie conditions.
Accommodations
Below, the 272 is roomy for its length. It has a V-berth forward, saloon settees, and a quarter berth, with sleeping room for up to four or five people—snugly—under 6 feet of headroom.
A Great Lakes 272LE owner describes the folding table as useful and large enough for four. The same owner is candid about the limits of the accommodations, saying the 272 sleeps two to five people uncomfortably, like most pocket cruisers. Interior comforts are modest, ventilation below is inadequate in stormy weather, and five people are the absolute maximum for cruising.
The head, non-pressurized alcohol stove, and ice box amount to minimum cruising equipment rather than luxuries. Overall, the cabin suits a weekend coastal camper more than a long-range cruiser.
Auxiliary Power
The 272 typically uses an outboard auxiliary or optional Yanmar diesel. The LE example carries a 10-2 Westerbeke, which its owner calls adequate and reports can drive the boat at 6 knots at 3,200 rpm in moderate to flat seas.
Known Issues and Refit Priorities
The most frequently cited weakness is the integrity of the deck hardware and the resulting water leakage. The LE owner calls leaking deck fittings the boat’s biggest problem and says marks on the fabric ceiling overhead are all but unavoidable.
That report also criticizes the Cruising Design roller reefer as too cheaply made to last for many years. The mainsail winch is described as underpowered, although the self-tailing winches are called a godsend. These are owner-reported equipment and wear issues rather than structural defects, but they help define the likely refit agenda.
In practical terms, ownership revolves around a small, shallow-draft boat with modest systems that reward simplification. A modern roller furler, a larger mainsail winch, and attention to deck leaks address most of the reported complaints. Around 100 boats were built, forming a small but identifiable fleet, while the shallow draft keeps the design relevant in the sheltered waters for which it was drawn.
The Verdict
The O'Day 272 is a purpose-built, shallow-draft coastal cruiser that trades racing edge for interior room, easy launching, and gunkholing access. Its wing keel and 2.92-foot draft open waters unavailable to deeper 27-footers, and owners find the helm balanced and the motion forgiving.
The compromises are real: ventilation is modest, the berths become tight at maximum capacity, and leaks around deck fittings require attention. For an owner who values weekend shelter over ocean passagemaking, the 272 remains a sensible small cruiser.
Pros
- Shallow 2.92-foot wing keel provides access to creeks and shallow harbors
- Roomy interior for a 27-footer, with a V-berth, settees, and quarter berth
- Well-balanced helm and forgiving motion in chop, according to owners
- Choice of optional diesel or outboard power, with adequate reported engine performance
Cons
- Leaking deck fittings are the leading owner-reported problem
- Original roller reefer is considered fragile, and the mainsail winch underpowered
- Accommodation is tight and poorly ventilated at maximum capacity
- Can lag seriously on a dead run, according to a 272LE owner
