O'Day 28
Built 1978–1986 by O'Day Corp.
About the O'Day 28
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1978–1986
- Builder
- O'Day Corp.
- Designer
- C. Raymond Hunt Assoc.
- Length
- 28.25 ft
- Waterline
- 22.92 ft
- Beam
- 10.25 ft
- Draft
- 4.5 ft
- Displacement
- 7,300 lb
- Ballast
- 2,350 lb
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 18 gal
- Water
- 25 gal
- Number built
- 544
- Stern thruster
- none
Fin keel with spade rudder, 4.5 ft; a keel/centerboard version (3.25 ft up / 6.83 ft down, 2,725 lb ballast) was later replaced by a 3.67 ft shoal fixed keel; a 4.67 ft deeper keel and a tall rig are also listed. Encapsulated lead keel (no keel bolts) and a structural hull liner per owner. Also offered with a 2-cylinder OMC gas saildrive. Sailboatdata lists Bangor Punta Marine as builder (O'Day parent) and does not state the rudder type beyond spade. The owner-reported Yanmar 3GM30 is an oversize repower that needed modifications. Hull laminate not stated in sources read; an owner says about 500 were built (sailboatdata: 544).
Known problems for this model
-
Universal impeller vanes block cooling passages cooling
An owner found the Universal diesel running hot because broken impeller vanes had lodged downstream in the cooling passages. Account for missing vanes whenever the impeller is replaced.oday.sailboatowners.com
-
Original engine underpowered engine
An owner thought the original engines were underpowered and now old, and suggested buying a repowered boat. Some boats were converted to outboards.cruisersforum.com
-
Mildewed hull-side carpet and mediocre joinery interior
The carpet lining on the hull sides stains and mildews with age, and the joinery is modest. The hull and encapsulated lead keel are considered solid.cruisersforum.com
Engines & parts
Yanmar 3GM / 3GM30F parts: good
Factory common repower engine — you entered “Yanmar 3GM30”
Very popular (used 3GM30Fs sell for $3,000+) and supported by a strong parts network. Cylinder head overhauls (valve seals, lapping, injector service) are a common, parts-supported repair.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
-
Overheating at cruise rpm cooling
The 3GM30F has a known overheating tendency linked to its heat exchanger; owners also trace it to coked elbows, worn impellers, scaled heat exchangers or air in the raw water circuit. Some heat exchangers were replaced under warranty.forums.sailboatowners.com
-
Mixing elbow corrosion exhaust
OEM elbows corrode internally and should be inspected or replaced with stainless versions before they let water into the engine.practical-sailor.com · facebook.com
Model sources (3)
sailboatdata.com · cruisersforum.com · oday.sailboatowners.com
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.