Deac's Odin site:
OVERVIEW: Well, I've promised this review of
the Odin 820 (Mast 28 as it's called here in the USA) for ages now so here it is with many pictures at the included website that I created.........so far. A bit of background on boats that I have owned so you can know where my biases are up. My first sailboat was a Mac 26X that I bought in 1999 and thoroughly enjoyed for 2-3 seasons on Lake Erie and especially the Erie Canal. But I felt I wanted a better built boat with stronger rigging (Lake Erie is the most treacherous Great Lake) for extended single handing during the summers here.
So in 2002 I bought a Hunter 356 and truly loved that boat as well. But the summers in Erie Pennsylvania are short and too many days of too much wind or not enough wind relegated my Hunter to either a floating condo at dock or a motor sailing machine in light air (I HATE running the engine on a sailboat).
The Hunter was also a tad big for just me so the "Ghost of MacGregor" began to whisper in my ear again. I wanted a boat I could extend my season with by trailering it south (or taking the canals south with an easily stepped mast). Also as much as I loved the Hunter, every time I needed to do something to it, it seemed I had to call in the cavalry to step the mast, maintain the complex systems, even the winter cover was too much for one person to do. In short, I missed the independence, simplicity and flexibility that a boat like the Mac 26 allowed. About this time I found out that my old Mac 26 dealer had just become the national distributor of the Odin 820 out of Germany. I had read with
interest about this boat a few years back but never figured it would make it over to this country. As soon as I saw the boat in person I realized I found the perfect, well built compromise between a Mac 26x and a Hunter. This boat was beautifully built with rugged fittings and hardware, wood trim throughout the belowdecks and storage capacity to die for. It was obviously inspired by the Mac 26x in its design but boy was it BUILT right !! Five internal halyards in the mast..............heavy duty jib/genoa furler...........'ball and socket' standing rigging attachments, heavy duty stainless steel stanchions, cleats, grab rails, stern rail seats.........robust steering linkages...........5 opening ports............easily stepped mast.........dual axel trailer...........well laid out interior ( shelves and cupboards and storage nooks abound).........it was just built extremely well.........european style quality.
I paid twice what I put into my Mac 5 years ago, but I feel I have four times the boat even if it is only 2 feet longer and a tad wider. So let me
begin wth my impressions:
PERFORMANCE: First of all this boat is probably 700-1000 pounds heavier than the Mac and you fee lit in the water by how much more
'mass' you have to plow through chop and waves with. It tracks like a much heavier boat and that gives a reassuring confidence under motor OR sail. I have not yet had any dose of "dock scare" when docking this thing in brisk wind like I used to with the Mac. Motoring is very similar to the Mac (outside of 'feeling' heavier). Water ballast goes in and out just the same...no difference there. I do not yet have the right prop pitch on my Suzuki outboard and so have not gotten above about 18 mph, but I expect it to get closer to 21-22 with the new 17 pitch prop that is supposed to be arriving. The first motoring trip I took was a one day trip across Lake Erie to Canada of 70 miles round trip one mostly at full throttle. I just punched in the autopilot and it rode and tracked like a champ. At that speed it DID seem a little more 'wet' of a ride than my Mac just from the spray blowing back over the deck that I kicked up ( dodger time !!)........but it wasn't bad.....just refreshing ;-). It
turns on a dime........similar to a Mac. You definitely want centerboard and rudders down in close quarter manuevering. I will have to give a more complete review of it's sailing characteristics later. I have had it in the water about 6 weeks and it has been such a lousy summer here that I haven't been able to get it out in anything above 8-10 knots of wind. Given that restriction I have not had it over 4.2 knots of boat speed. Part of that lack of speed is that the Odin folks mistakenly sent me a JIB instead of a GENOA and I'm still watiing for that light air sail. More later. By the way, the Mast 28 in my opinion points EXTREMELY better thant the Mac 26x (no 26M's here, so I cant' compare that)..........what a difference !! If I were to guess I would say we tack through 90 degrees, if not better.I chose the roller boom main sail option and with it's full battens and great sail shape it does a great job and very easy to raise and lower from the cockpit. There is no traveler. The freeboard on this boat I would guess to be the same if not a little more than the Mac 26x.
TRAILERING: Well, I used to white knuckle my Mac 26 at anything over 55 mph with my Ford Explorer........the sway was always a problem
as was tractor trailer rigs sucking me into a black hole when they passed. The dual axel trailer makes this a non-issue (or is it the fact that I now have a Ford F-150? :-) Launching and retrieving is as easy as a Mac thus far.
SUMMARY: I'll be glad to answer any of your questions that I can if I have missed a topic near and dear to your heart. I am thrilled however with this boat and it makes giving up my Hunter 356 much easier given the quality and performance of this boat...............it's the perfect boat
for someone who wants to cruise the Great Lakes, trailer, and do the inland canals. The Hunter did the former well, the Mac 26x did the latter well, but this does them both. My only concern now is how fast it will sail with the genoa. I will let you know. The only thing I think I will miss from my Hunter (besides the luxurious accomodations) will be not having a 'heavy' displacement boat when Lake Erie kicks upenly ...............but that's why I got the big ass outboard, right?
Regards, Deac
If you have any questions, please email me at
[email protected].
OVERVIEW: Well, I've promised this review of
the Odin 820 (Mast 28 as it's called here in the USA) for ages now so here it is with many pictures at the included website that I created.........so far. A bit of background on boats that I have owned so you can know where my biases are up. My first sailboat was a Mac 26X that I bought in 1999 and thoroughly enjoyed for 2-3 seasons on Lake Erie and especially the Erie Canal. But I felt I wanted a better built boat with stronger rigging (Lake Erie is the most treacherous Great Lake) for extended single handing during the summers here.
So in 2002 I bought a Hunter 356 and truly loved that boat as well. But the summers in Erie Pennsylvania are short and too many days of too much wind or not enough wind relegated my Hunter to either a floating condo at dock or a motor sailing machine in light air (I HATE running the engine on a sailboat).
The Hunter was also a tad big for just me so the "Ghost of MacGregor" began to whisper in my ear again. I wanted a boat I could extend my season with by trailering it south (or taking the canals south with an easily stepped mast). Also as much as I loved the Hunter, every time I needed to do something to it, it seemed I had to call in the cavalry to step the mast, maintain the complex systems, even the winter cover was too much for one person to do. In short, I missed the independence, simplicity and flexibility that a boat like the Mac 26 allowed. About this time I found out that my old Mac 26 dealer had just become the national distributor of the Odin 820 out of Germany. I had read with
interest about this boat a few years back but never figured it would make it over to this country. As soon as I saw the boat in person I realized I found the perfect, well built compromise between a Mac 26x and a Hunter. This boat was beautifully built with rugged fittings and hardware, wood trim throughout the belowdecks and storage capacity to die for. It was obviously inspired by the Mac 26x in its design but boy was it BUILT right !! Five internal halyards in the mast..............heavy duty jib/genoa furler...........'ball and socket' standing rigging attachments, heavy duty stainless steel stanchions, cleats, grab rails, stern rail seats.........robust steering linkages...........5 opening ports............easily stepped mast.........dual axel trailer...........well laid out interior ( shelves and cupboards and storage nooks abound).........it was just built extremely well.........european style quality.
I paid twice what I put into my Mac 5 years ago, but I feel I have four times the boat even if it is only 2 feet longer and a tad wider. So let me
begin wth my impressions:
PERFORMANCE: First of all this boat is probably 700-1000 pounds heavier than the Mac and you fee lit in the water by how much more
'mass' you have to plow through chop and waves with. It tracks like a much heavier boat and that gives a reassuring confidence under motor OR sail. I have not yet had any dose of "dock scare" when docking this thing in brisk wind like I used to with the Mac. Motoring is very similar to the Mac (outside of 'feeling' heavier). Water ballast goes in and out just the same...no difference there. I do not yet have the right prop pitch on my Suzuki outboard and so have not gotten above about 18 mph, but I expect it to get closer to 21-22 with the new 17 pitch prop that is supposed to be arriving. The first motoring trip I took was a one day trip across Lake Erie to Canada of 70 miles round trip one mostly at full throttle. I just punched in the autopilot and it rode and tracked like a champ. At that speed it DID seem a little more 'wet' of a ride than my Mac just from the spray blowing back over the deck that I kicked up ( dodger time !!)........but it wasn't bad.....just refreshing ;-). It
turns on a dime........similar to a Mac. You definitely want centerboard and rudders down in close quarter manuevering. I will have to give a more complete review of it's sailing characteristics later. I have had it in the water about 6 weeks and it has been such a lousy summer here that I haven't been able to get it out in anything above 8-10 knots of wind. Given that restriction I have not had it over 4.2 knots of boat speed. Part of that lack of speed is that the Odin folks mistakenly sent me a JIB instead of a GENOA and I'm still watiing for that light air sail. More later. By the way, the Mast 28 in my opinion points EXTREMELY better thant the Mac 26x (no 26M's here, so I cant' compare that)..........what a difference !! If I were to guess I would say we tack through 90 degrees, if not better.I chose the roller boom main sail option and with it's full battens and great sail shape it does a great job and very easy to raise and lower from the cockpit. There is no traveler. The freeboard on this boat I would guess to be the same if not a little more than the Mac 26x.
TRAILERING: Well, I used to white knuckle my Mac 26 at anything over 55 mph with my Ford Explorer........the sway was always a problem
as was tractor trailer rigs sucking me into a black hole when they passed. The dual axel trailer makes this a non-issue (or is it the fact that I now have a Ford F-150? :-) Launching and retrieving is as easy as a Mac thus far.
SUMMARY: I'll be glad to answer any of your questions that I can if I have missed a topic near and dear to your heart. I am thrilled however with this boat and it makes giving up my Hunter 356 much easier given the quality and performance of this boat...............it's the perfect boat
for someone who wants to cruise the Great Lakes, trailer, and do the inland canals. The Hunter did the former well, the Mac 26x did the latter well, but this does them both. My only concern now is how fast it will sail with the genoa. I will let you know. The only thing I think I will miss from my Hunter (besides the luxurious accomodations) will be not having a 'heavy' displacement boat when Lake Erie kicks upenly ...............but that's why I got the big ass outboard, right?
Regards, Deac
If you have any questions, please email me at
[email protected].
COCKPIT: Very roomy with large storage lazerettes port and starboard. In the port lazerette I store life preservers, 6 lines, two throwable preservers, horn, jacklines, tether, a container of extra lines, spare engine oil etc etc. In the starboard locker I can fit a second anchor, shore power line, tall bilge pump, boat brush, a bucket, two fenders and still have spare room.
Plenty of room for instrumentation on the pedestal where I have a Raymarine C70 series chartplotter, remote VHF, autopilot etc. The Raymarine Tridata is mounted on the starboard bulkhead. There is plenty of back support to lean agains't for all passengers and I would guess you could sail 5-6 comfortably back there. The stern rail seats are an added bonus. There are two recessed compartments in the cockpit sides for putting miscellaneous items like cell phone, ball ties, sail ties, etc etc. Single handing from the cockpit is as easier if not moreso than the Mac. A winch with three line locking cleats on each side. The companionway hatchboards are three in number (no more where to
stash the Mac's huge 'pizza box") that are a smoked thick plexiglass for privacy but still you can see to the stern.
There is a opening rear seat by which you gain access to the swim-platform/outboard (Suzuki 90 on mine) area. The rudders tie up ala the Mac but the 3 stainless steel step boarding ladder is a work of beauty, strength and function (and the treads are wide enough that it doesn't kill
your feet !!) . There is also a rear facing lockable fuel locker in the upper transom of the boat that could hold two 6 gallon fuel tanks..........that in addition to the 28 gallon INTERNAL tank underneath the swim platform. I keep one 6 gallon tank in there and a fender or two. The steering wheel is too small.............like from a powerboat.....13 inches max, so I replaced that with a larger one like I had on my Mac. The captain's seat is raised so even when you are motoring at WOT you can see over the bow better than on the Mac.
Plenty of room for instrumentation on the pedestal where I have a Raymarine C70 series chartplotter, remote VHF, autopilot etc. The Raymarine Tridata is mounted on the starboard bulkhead. There is plenty of back support to lean agains't for all passengers and I would guess you could sail 5-6 comfortably back there. The stern rail seats are an added bonus. There are two recessed compartments in the cockpit sides for putting miscellaneous items like cell phone, ball ties, sail ties, etc etc. Single handing from the cockpit is as easier if not moreso than the Mac. A winch with three line locking cleats on each side. The companionway hatchboards are three in number (no more where to
stash the Mac's huge 'pizza box") that are a smoked thick plexiglass for privacy but still you can see to the stern.
There is a opening rear seat by which you gain access to the swim-platform/outboard (Suzuki 90 on mine) area. The rudders tie up ala the Mac but the 3 stainless steel step boarding ladder is a work of beauty, strength and function (and the treads are wide enough that it doesn't kill
your feet !!) . There is also a rear facing lockable fuel locker in the upper transom of the boat that could hold two 6 gallon fuel tanks..........that in addition to the 28 gallon INTERNAL tank underneath the swim platform. I keep one 6 gallon tank in there and a fender or two. The steering wheel is too small.............like from a powerboat.....13 inches max, so I replaced that with a larger one like I had on my Mac. The captain's seat is raised so even when you are motoring at WOT you can see over the bow better than on the Mac.
FORESHIP/MIDSHIP: There is an anchor platform that extends about 2 feet beyond the bow that feeds into a large anchor locker. The fresh water tank fill is up there too (about 20 gallons under the V berth). An opening bow hatch (with window, not opaque fiberglass) as well. The side decks are narrow, but passable..........you can also walk along the top roof as well although it slopes a tad and takes a little getting
used to. Stepping the mast took me about as long as the Mac did and is a pretty slick system of block and tackle that resides in the anchor locker when you are done. You just store a telescoping gin pole when you're done. The mast is gorgeous already pre-set for a spinakker shoujld you want one. Five (or is it six?) internal halyards that go to turning blocks at the base of the mast and all led aft. Despite the mast being much higher quality than the Mac, it doesn't seem much heavier to man-handle when raising and lowering it. The standing rigging is of great quality too with high quality fittings and those great 'ball and socket' type attachments to the mast. An adjustable backstay (with its own block and tackle) rounds out the rig. The furler drum hardware is equal in quality to the Profurl I have on my 35 foot Hunter. The quality and
rigidity of the fiberglass I find very striking....the fit and finish on this boat in GENERAL keeps exceeding my expectations (little things like the INSIDE of the below decks storage compartments are painted white and oftenimes finished OFF with smooth gelcoat unlike the dark, natural prickly Mac 26x internal storage areas.)
used to. Stepping the mast took me about as long as the Mac did and is a pretty slick system of block and tackle that resides in the anchor locker when you are done. You just store a telescoping gin pole when you're done. The mast is gorgeous already pre-set for a spinakker shoujld you want one. Five (or is it six?) internal halyards that go to turning blocks at the base of the mast and all led aft. Despite the mast being much higher quality than the Mac, it doesn't seem much heavier to man-handle when raising and lowering it. The standing rigging is of great quality too with high quality fittings and those great 'ball and socket' type attachments to the mast. An adjustable backstay (with its own block and tackle) rounds out the rig. The furler drum hardware is equal in quality to the Profurl I have on my 35 foot Hunter. The quality and
rigidity of the fiberglass I find very striking....the fit and finish on this boat in GENERAL keeps exceeding my expectations (little things like the INSIDE of the below decks storage compartments are painted white and oftenimes finished OFF with smooth gelcoat unlike the dark, natural prickly Mac 26x internal storage areas.)
DOWN BELOW: Ah, now this is a great use of space down below. I won't say too much here because the pictures included tell most of the
story. I'll just itemize a few things.
1) The amount of wood trim is wonderful and good solid wood !! Very warm and light airy feeling down below
2) The mattresses are much more comfortable than the Mac and covered with a higher quality material
3) Storage under the settees SEEMED about the same as the Mac26x, but in practice seem to swallow alot more gear. Under the port settee just forward of the sink is a large integrated ice box complete with a bilge pump for pumping out the melted ice water so you don't have to bail it out (might double as an emergency bilge if the water gets too high some day ? :-)
4) The head is slightly bigger than the Mac 26x but has alot more storage .
In addition there is a HUGE locker behind where the portajohn goes about the size of at least two bread boxes. The head also has one of the opening ports which is a godsend. By the way, all the opening ports have screens included.
6) The king berth beneath the cockpit is almost undistinguishable from the Mac in size. There is a panel at the back of it to gain access to the fuel tank (and in my case, batteries that I put in a special sealed compartment back there....another Odin purchaser in Michigan used that battery space to put a holding tank for the permanent head he installed) There is a nice storage shelf and reading light on the port side of the aft king berth. Right now I use that area for storage and to keep extra my ice box ( plan to put refrigeration in the galley next year).
7) The galley, while a tad low to the ground, is very functional with yet another ice box directly behind the sink (I use it to store food in). The under counter storage is similar in volume to a Mac, but much more accessible with none of the Mac 26x's wasted space beneath the counter. The integrated wooden rack above galley is well designed for holding plates, cups, and even a six-way sectioned off area where you store your eating utensils and tools VERTICALLY (and no, they don't fly out when you heel over !!) And of course, those damn Europeans have a built in wine rack for 3-4 bottles of wine !!.................I used it for holding the fire extinguisher at first, but what a waste of good wine space !!!.
8) the centerboard housing forms the pedestal for the center eating table. Two leaves fold down for easy access forward and you can comfortably seat six people with both leaves up.
Sitting even FOUR people at the dinette is MUCH more comfortable than on the Mac 26x where I always felt like I was about to fall off the end if I wasn't grinding my elbow in to the person next to me. 9) There are 6 storage compartments with sliding plexiglass doors behind each setee............VERY handy !! I have moved down size-wize from a 35 foot/12 foot beam Hunter to a 28 foot/ 8 foot 4 inch Mast 28 and I have NOT felt the lack of any storage space. In fact I still have not filled all the cubby holes in my Mast 28 yet. By comparison, by this point, my Mac would be brimming from every orifice with 'stuff'.
9) The long shelves along each side of the V-berth are of great use as well and the V-berth is longer than that of the Mac it seems to me. All in all, a very bright, airy, less cramped space down below very well laid out.
I would prefer a hinged companionway ladder ala the Mac 26x vs the wholly removable one on the Mast 28, but that's nitpicking
story. I'll just itemize a few things.
1) The amount of wood trim is wonderful and good solid wood !! Very warm and light airy feeling down below
2) The mattresses are much more comfortable than the Mac and covered with a higher quality material
3) Storage under the settees SEEMED about the same as the Mac26x, but in practice seem to swallow alot more gear. Under the port settee just forward of the sink is a large integrated ice box complete with a bilge pump for pumping out the melted ice water so you don't have to bail it out (might double as an emergency bilge if the water gets too high some day ? :-)
4) The head is slightly bigger than the Mac 26x but has alot more storage .
In addition there is a HUGE locker behind where the portajohn goes about the size of at least two bread boxes. The head also has one of the opening ports which is a godsend. By the way, all the opening ports have screens included.
6) The king berth beneath the cockpit is almost undistinguishable from the Mac in size. There is a panel at the back of it to gain access to the fuel tank (and in my case, batteries that I put in a special sealed compartment back there....another Odin purchaser in Michigan used that battery space to put a holding tank for the permanent head he installed) There is a nice storage shelf and reading light on the port side of the aft king berth. Right now I use that area for storage and to keep extra my ice box ( plan to put refrigeration in the galley next year).
7) The galley, while a tad low to the ground, is very functional with yet another ice box directly behind the sink (I use it to store food in). The under counter storage is similar in volume to a Mac, but much more accessible with none of the Mac 26x's wasted space beneath the counter. The integrated wooden rack above galley is well designed for holding plates, cups, and even a six-way sectioned off area where you store your eating utensils and tools VERTICALLY (and no, they don't fly out when you heel over !!) And of course, those damn Europeans have a built in wine rack for 3-4 bottles of wine !!.................I used it for holding the fire extinguisher at first, but what a waste of good wine space !!!.
8) the centerboard housing forms the pedestal for the center eating table. Two leaves fold down for easy access forward and you can comfortably seat six people with both leaves up.
Sitting even FOUR people at the dinette is MUCH more comfortable than on the Mac 26x where I always felt like I was about to fall off the end if I wasn't grinding my elbow in to the person next to me. 9) There are 6 storage compartments with sliding plexiglass doors behind each setee............VERY handy !! I have moved down size-wize from a 35 foot/12 foot beam Hunter to a 28 foot/ 8 foot 4 inch Mast 28 and I have NOT felt the lack of any storage space. In fact I still have not filled all the cubby holes in my Mast 28 yet. By comparison, by this point, my Mac would be brimming from every orifice with 'stuff'.
9) The long shelves along each side of the V-berth are of great use as well and the V-berth is longer than that of the Mac it seems to me. All in all, a very bright, airy, less cramped space down below very well laid out.
I would prefer a hinged companionway ladder ala the Mac 26x vs the wholly removable one on the Mast 28, but that's nitpicking