O'Day 272
Built 1985–1989 by O'Day Corp.
About the O'Day 272
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1985–1989
- Builder
- O'Day Corp.
- Designer
- C. Raymond Hunt & Assoc.
- Length
- 26.92 ft
- Waterline
- 22.92 ft
- Beam
- 9 ft
- Draft
- 2.92 ft
- Displacement
- 5,375 lb
- Ballast
- 1,930 lb
- Hull / keel
- wing keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- outboard
- Water
- 25 gal
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel unknown
“the 9 gallon fuel tank” — search excerpt (1987), forums.sailboatowners.comThe only figure is from an owners' forum and applies only to boats with the optional inboard diesel. Standard boats used an outboard with a remote gas tank in a vented cockpit locker, according to Good Old Boat's review.
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Water 25 gal
Wikipedia gives 25 US gal but draws on the same spec databases, so it isn't an independent source; no brochure or owner's manual could be checked.
-
Holding unknown
Good Old Boat says the holding tank under the V-berth was optional, with a portable toilet standard; it gives no size.
-
Water heater unknown
The standard boat description in the 1986 Lear Siegler O'Day 272 owner's manual lists 30 gal fresh water, an optional holding tank, optional 9 gal fuel tank and optional 10 hp diesel, but no water heater. The copy found stops before the plumbing and electrical section (water system and DC diagrams), so that part couldn't be checked.
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 1985-86 builder manual (general, commissioning, rigging sections) and the Good Old Boat review say nothing about a thruster.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
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Steering tiller
“The base model is steered with a tiller, while the 272 LE is fitted with an Edson pedestal wheel.” — review, goodoldboat.com · “The rudder is foam-cored fiberglass. It is transom-mounted and connected to a varnished ash tiller.” — review, goodoldboat.com · “O'Day built a 272 LE which has wheel steering and a diesel inboard, and they also built a 272 with an outboard on the tr” — search excerpt, forums.sailboatowners.comThe base 272 (outboard) has a transom-hung rudder and ash tiller; the 272 LE (inboard diesel) came with an Edson pedestal wheel, according to Good Old Boat, which doesn't give the mechanism. The builder manual's docking plan shows the transom-hung rudder, but the online copy lacks its steering section.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Wing keel (2.92 ft) is standard (sailboatdata). Normally outboard-powered from a well or bracket; an inboard engine (gas or diesel) was optional. The same filler problem is reported on other O'Day wing-keel models (240, 280, 302, 322). A 272LE variant existed. Sailboatdata names Lear Siegler (then O'Day's parent) as a builder. Hull laminate not stated in sources read.
Engines fitted
-
Westerbeke W10 Two (W102) — 10 hp, diesel, single
factory option
Optional inboard diesel (standard on the 272 LE); two-cylinder, freshwater-cooled. Owners of 1987 boats report it.Sources: goodoldboat.com · forums.sailboatowners.com · sailnet.com
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Yanmar 9 hp diesel (model not stated) — 9 hp, diesel, single
factory option
The other optional diesel, depending on production year.Sources: goodoldboat.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No generator in the manual contents or capacities; most boats were outboard-powered with an optional small diesel.
Manuals and brochures online
- Owner's manual O'Day 272 Owner's Manual (Lear Siegler Marine, 1985-86; general, commissioning and rigging sections) (1986) — sbo.sailboatowners.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
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Wing keel fairing compound failing hull
The lead wing keel is bolted to a fiberglass stub, and the factory filler used to fair the casting tends to fall out over time. Owners have ground it back to bare lead and re-faired or glass-encapsulated it.sailnet.com
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Keel seam and bolt torque hull
Owners report the sealant at the lead-to-stub seam failing and recommend checking and re-torquing the keel bolts; one boat had badly corroded lead around the joint.sailnet.com
Model sources (6)
sailboatdata.com · sailnet.com · bolsadenavegantes.net · goodoldboat.com · forums.sailboatowners.com · sailnet.com
Own a O'Day 272? Add her to your boats, then share a photo — names, numbers and faces are blurred before it appears.
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.