O'Day 30
Built 1977–1984 by O'Day Corp.
About the O'Day 30
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1977–1984
- Builder
- O'Day Corp.
- Designer
- C. Raymond Hunt Assoc.
- Length
- 29.92 ft
- Waterline
- 25.42 ft
- Beam
- 10.75 ft
- Draft
- 4.92 ft
- Displacement
- 10,500 lb
- Ballast
- 4,200 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- varies by year
- Water
- varies by year
- Water heater
- factory option
- Number built
- 356
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel varies by year
“it came with a 26 gallon fuel tank” — search excerpt (1983), forums.sailboatowners.com · “The fuel tank holds 26 U.S. gallons (98 L; 22 imp gal)” — search excerpt, en.wikipedia.orgPractical Sailor found early boats with an 18 gal aluminium tank and boats from about 1980 on usually with 26 gal; the owner of a 1983 boat confirms 26. No builder document could be checked to say which was standard, so 26 is the figure for boats built about 1980–84 and 18 for earlier ones.
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Water varies by year
“The standard water tank varies in capacity from 25 to 30 gallons, depending” — search excerpt, practical-sailor.comPractical Sailor says the standard tank was 25–30 gal depending on year; later boats had the smaller tank plus an optional extra 25 gal. Spec databases give 25, and no builder figure could be checked to set a single standard.
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Water heater factory option
“Pressure Hot & Cold Water with Shower 825.00 (option column O'DAY 30)” — builder (1984 models (price list effective Aug 1,), sbo.sailboatowners.comBangor Punta's 1984-model price list prices pressure hot and cold water with shower as an extra on the O'Day 30 (base boat $42,000); Practical Sailor's used-boat review calls the shower optional and the standard boat basic. The O'Day manual for the sister 28 says the optional heater runs off engine coolant and 110 V, not confirmed for the 30.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
The builder's 1984 suggested retail price list (options only; the standard list is not included) has no thruster option.
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Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none had no source. The builder's 1984 suggested retail price list (options only; the standard list is not included) has no thruster option.
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Steering tiller
“Tiller Extension - Adjustable Length (option); Compass - Pedestal Mount (Available with wheel steering option only)” — builder (1984), sbo.sailboatowners.com · “Wheel Steering - 28" wheel, brake, and engine controls mounted on pedestal (option, O'Day 28 and O'Day 30)” — builder (1984), sbo.sailboatowners.comA tiller was standard, with a factory pedestal-wheel option (28-in wheel, brake, engine controls), according to the 1984 builder price list. The wheel's mechanism and maker aren't stated for the O'Day 30.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Fin keel with spade rudder, 4.92 ft; keel/centerboard version (3.5 ft up / 7.18 ft down, 11,000 lb displacement, 4,700 lb ballast) and a tall rig were offered. Solid glass hull with full-length molded body pan; Navtec rod chainplates anchored to the pan; keel-stepped masts (Schaefer, then Kenyon, then Isomat spars). Fuel tank is 18 gal on early boats and 26 gal after 1980; water 25-30 gal by year, plus an optional 25 gal tank. Became the O'Day 31 in 1984-85 with a longer stern. Similar to the Ranger 30. PS says over 350 were built.
Engines fitted
-
Universal diesel (model not named by source) — 18 hp, diesel, single
standard
Wikipedia: fitted with an 18 hp Universal diesel; 356 built 1977-84. Single source.Sources: en.wikipedia.org
- Yanmar — 12 hp, diesel standard
- Universal — 16 hp, diesel standard
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
The 1984-model builder option list for the O'Day 30 (including a 110 V shore power system) has no generator.
Known problems for this model
-
Early single-cylinder Yanmar troubles engine
The original 12 hp raw-water-cooled single-cylinder Yanmar left the boat underpowered, and one owner had it replaced under warranty after unfixable problems. The 2QM15 came in 1978 and the 16 hp Universal in 1980.practical-sailor.com
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Early engine beds loosen engine
On early boats the engine beds were fastened to the engine-box walls and vibration could loosen them. Later boats have a molded fiberglass bed and drip pan.practical-sailor.com
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No engine sound insulation engine
The engine compartment was not insulated, so the Yanmar installations in particular are noisy. PS recommends adding insulation.practical-sailor.com
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Leaks at mast, hardware and ports deck
Owners reported typical production-boat problems: gelcoat crazing, leaks at the mast, deck hardware and ports, and plain interior finish.practical-sailor.com
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Excess mast rake on early boats rigging
Some early boats had a lot of weather helm because the mast was raked too far aft.practical-sailor.com
Model sources (4)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org · sbo.sailboatowners.com
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.