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Oday 12
Designer: Robert Baker  ·  Builder: O'day Corp.  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Oday 12

A compact entry-level sailboat from O'Day Corporation, this 12-foot daysailer represents the company's commitment to making sailing accessible to newcomers and budget-conscious sailors. Built during O'Day's prolific production years, the Oday 12 embodied the manufacturer's philosophy of creating affordable, user-friendly boats that could introduce families to the joys of sailing. With its modest size and simplified rigging, this boat excels as a trainer and recreational daysailer, perfectly suited for protected waters, small lakes, and gentle coastal environments. The design prioritizes stability and ease of handling over performance, making it an ideal choice for sailing schools, youth programs, or adults taking their first steps into the sport. Despite limited available specifications, the Oday 12's compact dimensions suggest a boat that's easily trailerable and manageable for single-handed sailing or small crew adventures. Its straightforward design eliminates intimidating complexity while still providing genuine sailing experience. For those seeking an affordable introduction to sailing or a simple boat for relaxed afternoon outings on calm waters, this model offers O'Day's reputation for practical, no-nonsense construction in an approachable package.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Beam 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Max Draft 3.50 ft / 1.07 m
Min Draft 0.42 ft / 0.13 m
Displacement 243.00 lb / 110 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 75.00 ft² / 6.97 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Dbrd. Dinghy
Rigging Type Cat (unstayed)
Construction FG
Designer Robert Baker
Builder O'Day Corp.
First Built 1975
Last Built 1980
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
30.84
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
3.74
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
3.21
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 4.54
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 205.45
How It Compares

vs. Aqua Cat 12, Hobie Bravo, Howmar 12

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Oday 12 ★
12.3 ft
Aqua Cat 12
12.2 ft
Hobie Bravo
12.0 ft
Howmar 12
12.2 ft
LWL
Oday 12 ★
11.5 ft
Aqua Cat 12
11.8 ft
Hobie Bravo
Howmar 12
10.4 ft
Beam
Oday 12 ★
5.0 ft
Aqua Cat 12
6.5 ft
Hobie Bravo
4.4 ft
Howmar 12
5.0 ft
Displacement
Oday 12 ★
243 lbs
Aqua Cat 12
160 lbs
Hobie Bravo
195 lbs
Howmar 12
175 lbs
Sail Area
Oday 12 ★
75 sq ft
Aqua Cat 12
90 sq ft
Hobie Bravo
86 sq ft
Howmar 12
90 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Oday 12 ★
30.8
Aqua Cat 12
48.9
Hobie Bravo
41.0
Howmar 12
46.1
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Oday 12 ★
3.7
Aqua Cat 12
Hobie Bravo
3.9
Howmar 12
2.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Oday 12 ★
3.21
Aqua Cat 12
Hobie Bravo
3.05
Howmar 12
3.58
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Oday 12 ★
Aqua Cat 12
Hobie Bravo
82
Howmar 12
69
Hull Speed
Oday 12 ★
4.5 kts
Aqua Cat 12
Hobie Bravo
4.3 kts
Howmar 12
4.3 kts
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