#1534 Featured in Worldwide Classic Boat Show

Congratulations to John Swansey whose O'Day Mariner, #1534 Blackhawk, was accepted to Off Center Harbor's (OCH) virtual Worldwide Classic Boat Show! While you must either be a member of OCH or purchase tickets separately to see his entry (https://classicboatshow.com/login) along with all the other outstanding entries, here is a snippet of the description:

"Blackhawk is a 1969 O’Day Mariner 2+2. The much-loved Mariner class has been in near continuous production until present times, numbering nearly 4000 hulls, in both fixed keel and centerboard configurations. Mariners are handmade today in Rockland, Maine by Stuart Marine. The active and supportive Mariner Owners association is a vital and essential part of the Mariner experience. Blackhawk (formerly Able Lady,) a retired racer from the competitive Mariner fleets of New Jersey was purchased sight unseen by her present owner in 2018, brought to North Carolina and put in service as a trailer-sailing family day boat and occasional overnighter. The owner enjoys sailing her up onto the beach with blades up and stepping off with dry feet, as well as frequent compliments on her beautiful lines from fellow boaters."

Earliest 2+2 Model: #1299?

Toward the end of 1968, the O'Day Corporation rolled out its first mid-style, "2+2" model Mariner at the Fall River, Massachusetts factory at 168 Stevens Street. While retaining the original hull shape (identical to a Rhodes 19 hull), the deck and cabin were totally reconfigured from the old-style Mariners of 1963-1968 with the aft deck removed, cabin enclosed, and cockpit sole raised to accommodate new quarterberths. (Hence the "2+2" designation: two could sleep in the V-berth with an additional two in the quarterberths.)

Some new information has recently come to light about one of the very first mid-style O'Day Mariners from member Chris Albert (#2714 Flotsam):

"Back in 2006, after going for a sail on my boat, my friend Steve liked it so much he bought one a week later!  Dances with Waves (quickly renamed Dunces with Waves), hull #1299, was a rare mid-style keel (non-centerboard) Mariner. The keel boat was stiffer than mine and tracked better, as you would expect.  I recall performance being about on-par with mine, except it was better in heavier winds and more sluggish in light winds (as you might expect).  And slower on a downwind run, in any conditions, because the centerboard boats allow you to raise the board way up. I remember Steve’s hull number (#1299) because it used the same digits as yours (#1922). Dunces with Waves was displayed and sold road-side out of Mansfield, CT, not far from UConn, by Steve’s co-owner.  Unknown where it went off to."

The earliest known mid-style model was previously thought to be #1306; this correction has been made in the "Mariner History" section of this website.