[1][2][3] The design was built by O'Day Corp., a division of Lear Siegler, in the United States from 1985 until 1989, but it is now out of production.

[1][3][4][5] The O'Day 272 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim.

It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, a reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a wheel or a tiller and an externally fastened fixed wing keel.

The boat is normally fitted with a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering, although a gasoline or diesel inboard engine was a factory option.

The fresh water tank has a capacity of 25 U.S. gallons (95 L; 21 imp gal).