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O’Day 40 - A Budget Cruiser for the Bahamas
March 23, 2026 · 10 min · 14K views
O'Day 40 cockpit view in marina with rigging and yachts
What this video covers
The 1986 O'Day 40 is a 39.5-foot masthead sloop designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, featuring a 12.5-foot beam and 18,000-pound displacement.3:28 Powered by a 46-horsepower Westerbeke diesel, the vessel offers a 6.5-foot headroom and a layout that includes a U-shaped saloon and a sugar scoop transom.5:32 Performance metrics include a 26.96 comfort ratio and a 1.93 capsize screening, positioning the boat as a coastal cruiser rather than a heavy-duty blue water vessel.4:02 Construction utilizes a fiberglass structural grid and balsa-cored decks, requiring inspection of keel-to-grid bonding, deck hardware, and compression post integrity.6:38 While not built to the structural standards of a Pacific Seacraft or Valiant, the O'Day 40 maintains a reputation for predictable sailing characteristics and manageable handling in 12–15 knots of breeze.4:46 Approximately 180 units were produced, and the model remains a budget-conscious option for coastal cruising and island hopping.3:02
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