Design and Construction
The hull is a solid laminate of fiberglass and plastic resin, and an interior fiberglass liner forms the lockers, seats, and berths. Decks are built with a balsa wood core, a practice the period review notes was common on boats built after 1970. The keel is cast iron, and the same spade rudder was used on both the shoal- and deep-draft versions. Two draft options were offered: a deep-draft keel drawing 5 feet 7 inches and a shoal-draft keel drawing 4 feet 3 inches. On the shoal-draft model the rudder sits nearly exactly as deep as the bottom of the keel, which leaves it quite vulnerable to damage by grounding.
Rig and Handling
The numbers describe a moderate-performance coastal cruiser rather than a thoroughbred. The displacement/length ratio is 216 and the sail area/displacement ratio is 16.45. Short overhangs give a reasonably long sailing length, and the deep-draft keel is a moderate-aspect fin intended for good windward performance. The rudder is large for good control. The shoal-draft configuration trades some of that security for shallower water access at the cost of a rudder exposed almost level with the keel's lowest point.
Accommodations
Below, the layout runs from a V-berth cabin forward, followed by a head to port and hanging lockers to starboard. The main saloon carries port and starboard settees around a centerline drop-leaf table. Aft to starboard is a quarter berth and navigation station, while the port side holds a U-shaped galley. The interior fiberglass liner integrates the berths and storage as a single molded structure rather than as framed joinery.
Known Issues
Aside from occasional osmotic blistering of the bottom, the review found few significant structural problems. The cast-iron keel is another matter: most examples reflect a rather poor job of preparation and preserving the metal, and rust scaling is common if an owner has not taken the time to prepare the surface and preserve it properly. The shoal-draft rudder's grounding vulnerability is the other documented weak point.
Machinery and Systems
Auxiliary power came from Universal Marine's three-cylinder, 21-horsepower, fresh-water-cooled diesel, installed beneath the bridge deck with good access to all sides. The fuel tank and water heater sit aft of the engine. The engine location and all-around access make routine service straightforward compared with many mid-size cruisers of the era.
The Verdict
The O'Day 35 is a pragmatic Hunt-designed coastal cruiser with a molded-in swim platform on later hulls, a roomy three-cabin-style interior, and a well-accessed standard diesel. The cast-iron keel's finish and the shoal-draft rudder's exposure are the points a survey must weigh.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with molded interior liner for structural simplicity
- Good all-around engine access beneath the bridge deck
- Large rudder and moderate-aspect fin keel for controlled handling
- V-berth forward with U-shaped galley and navigation station
Cons
- Cast-iron keel commonly shows poor preservation and rust scaling
- Shoal-draft rudder is nearly as deep as the keel and easily damaged by grounding
- Occasional bottom osmotic blistering
