1977 Cat27

[Todd]

I am new into sailing, don't have a boat yet, but would like to get one. I have gone out several times with friends that do have boats. I recently came across a boat on yachtworld.com that seems like a very nice boat...or so I think. It is a 1977 C-27 (as mentioned earlier) with an Atomic 4 engine, going for $5,500. This seems like it is on the very low side, and I was wondering if there is anything I should look for in particular in this boat. It will be my first boat, so I don't need anything to fancy. I'll get all the goodies later in life Thanks!

 

[Jack2438]

Todd

All I have for you is basic advice. The 27 is a fine sailing boat but being a 1977 it may be a bit long in the tooth. If the boat has had very good maintance it may be a real good deal for you, but if not it could be a money pit. I would start by having your sailing friends check it out and look for the obvious and if they/you find it OK spend a few bucks and have a pro check it out. Hiring a pro will be only the beginning of spending money on your 'new to you' boat.As far as the Atomic engine, I will leave it to others to chime in about that. good luck, Jack

 

[rob S]

Great boat

Go take a look, as there are many Cat 27s of that age that are still in great shape. The price does seem low, however. I owned a '77 Cat 27 for nearly 2 seasons several years ago and really loved her. The Atomic 4 is a model of ruggedness and simplicity and started every time. Like on most boats of this age, check for surface blistering, rusted keelbolts (in bilge), leaking around the chainplates, etc. Make sure your bilge pump works, that your lights work, and that your thru-hulls are operational (the only thing that I had to do to my boat was replace a frozen and crappy old gate valve substituting for a proper thru-hull). Tanks and hoses should also be thoroughly checked on a boat of that age. I moved up to a Cat 30 to get more room and a wheel, but I am sure that I could also have been quite happy with my old Cat 27 for many years. With a Cat 27 you will also undoutedly have the advantage lots of folks in your marina who can provide advice because of the large numbers who currently or used to own a Cat 27. This boat has been just about the most popular one of its class for decades.

 

[Mark]

Great First Boat

I owned a C27 1974 for 14 years and moved up to C36 in 2003. I purchased my C27 for $5,500 in 1989 and sold it for $5,200 in 2003. The price for this boat is just alittle low but that may reflect the equipment that is on it. (e.g. roller furling, anchor and rodes, electronics, auto pilot, head holdong tank etc..). There are usually many of these boats for sale in a particular area so shop alittle before buying but you cannot go wrong at that price unless as pointed out by others, there are major blister problems, keel bolt problems, leaks into core that has caused major dry rot of structure.I had an outboard and like the storage space below the cockpit for dinghy, and anchor rode crates. Check the standing rigging also. The cost to re-rig would be around $2,500 or more unless you do it yourself, so the costs can be made up with the purchase of a better condition boat (if applicable).Check out the C27.org website for more information. The C27 is a great boat to really learn to sail since it is so nimble and easy to manuver. You will not be unhappy with this boat. I also like the Ericson 29 of similar vintage -that is a little more boat than the Catalina, holds better to wind and also a great value. The same could be said about the Cal 27 - 29 or even the Columbia's and Coronados' These are all boats that made sailing what it is today in the States by allowing the common folk like us to get out on the water. Even though I am a die-hard Catalina fan I would take the Ericson 29 over the Catalina 27 as a first boat.Fair Winds, Mark

 

[Phil]

Another new to me Cat 27 owner

We just purchased a Cat 27 this summer as our first boat too. Due to circumstances we didn't have a professional inspection (I'm not sure that a $500 survey on a $5500 boat is appropriate anyway, unless you are truly not confident in knowing what you're looking at or it's your last bit of spare fundage); I'm hoping I won't regret that. My only concern is some gelcoat cracks/crazing on the deck that are common on older boats (aren't they?). The previous owners lived aboard quite a bit during the summer. The cabin shows no signs of water intrusion (stains, smells, lots of water in the bilge, obvious patches and repairs). The standing rigging is spotless, no rust or loose strands (though the running rigging and working sails are on the downhill side of worn). The hull shows no signs of damage or previous repair. The electrical and plumbing systems all work without any problems. The Universal M18 starts every time and runs smoothly; the engine compartment is clean and tidy. A survey done several years earlier indicates the boat has been very well cared for in the past. Besides, it's a small sailing community at a smallish marina and the previous owners are still there on something bigger (Irwin 37). A little bit of experience and a lot of enthusiasm go a long way on this fun boat. We tried out one of the three extra headsails last week, an asymmetrical spinnaker with a chutescoop. If you've ever seen or been part of putting a full spinnaker up, you will truly appreciate the ease of this much simpler setup.Odd bits will occur, but that's part of owning a boat. For example, a Boomkicker (solid vang) had been put on our boat by a previous owner. That's all well and good, but they also removed the original boom vang (or perhaps never had one). So now I'm looking into putting one in place to flatten the sail and also to use as a preventer on rolling runs in light breezes. The fitting where the vang should attach to the mast has a shackle for the mainsheet, which apparently can be run just under the boom or along the deck. I'm not sure if I can attach both the vang and the shackle to the same fitting, but I'll find out.I guess what I'm saying, in my long-winded way, is that your Cat 27 will have problems too, but it's a good boat to start figuring out how to arrive at solutions. There are so many of them out there, in a variety of conditions, that resources are generally not lacking. It's not so small as to feel cramped and not so big as to feel overwhelmed.I'd say jump in, if not this boat then another like it.Happy sailing from a fellow Cat 27 first-time boat owner.

 

[rsn48]

Cat 27 and issues

Most older boats have "issues;" however the question is - "are any of them fatal?" By fatal, I mean a boat that is basically on its last legs. The hulls of the mid-70's boats are much less prone to osmosis and blistering than the newer hulls, particularly of the 80's vintage. The hulls also have that extra layer of Fiberglas - just to be sure; you'll find older 27's are heavier than newer ones, this is all to the good.Most "issues" on your boat will be leaks through the windows, the chain plate area around the - what-cha-ma-call-it that fits on your bulkhead - may be starting to rot, mine is. A replacement isn't suppose to be that hard to do - see past threads on this. I think the greatest "issue" with a number of really old Cat 27's like mine is what I would call the "blank canvas" issue. I am apparently the fourth owner of my Leaky Cauldron and from what I can glean, the last three guys were all "cheap bast...."; their philosophy seemed to be, don't spend a dime on the boat unless it really really really needed it. This means my boat didn't come with any "extras" including a VHF (but the last guy left me his VHF bracket - too lazy to remove it). This "blank canvas" may seem a negative however I have added much to the boat in the last year of ownership. I gave away my old 9.8 2 stroke Merc to a needy teenager, who promptly fixed it up, painted it and sold it for $700 (the kid was great and phoned me and asked permission to sell it; I said - "Its yours do as you please.") I had the rectangle in the transom filled in, a power bracket added to lift the motor, a new Big Foot Mer 9.9 added; controls added in the cockpit.I then added four golf cart batteries, added shore power and ships power, installed a microwave beneath the two burner stove. I added a new anchor, chain and line, bow roller, piping to the locker, and windlass. I threw in 3 Rule 750 bilge pumps to provide proper drainage. I had the sea cocks modified and tubing added so they didn't drain through the transom storage area. A new head, tubing and fittings were added.My philosophy was simple; if I purchase a used boat for $25,000 I will end up needing to fix "stuff" in the near future - more money. If I got a much cheaper boat and threw $15,000 at it, I would have many parts of the boat being "new." For example, I didn't even bother to see if the Merc 9.8 even worked as it looked old and I knew that it had been many many years since the last 9.8 was manufactured; now I don't need to worry about the engine for the boat, or the new Merc 3.3 dingy motor, nor my new Walker Bay dingy with tube.Obviously you don't need to do all this, but it feels good to bring an old boat back to life - it almost feels like its grateful for the new life. I will have the rigging replaced, new sails and a dodger added (like I say the past owners didn't spend a dime on the old girl).I suspect your possible new "old" boat will need some work, but it will probably feel gratifying to you as you do it and you will have some wonderful cruises to back up your expenses.As a wonderful older "lady with class" said to me one day, sitting on the boat moored next to mine after I had complained about my "black hole of a money pit": she said - "But young man, its your black hole!"

 

[Ferg]

Gotta love it!

I think any boat a person buys “used” needs love and will have things you’ll like and things you don’t. My 1974 C27: I love the huge gaping hole of a companionway! I never bump a shoulder or struggle with a cooler going in. And when you really need to stuff a spinnaker downstairs, there’s plenty of room. I love the traveler back behind the tiller. It’s never in the way of anything. (mine’s not the original, but a Harken 4:1) I love the fact it weighs 6800lbs not including the motor. She takes heavy air very well and in the worst waves Lake Superior throws at her, she gets me home. (I have learned that the weather people lie to me from time to time)I don’t like the narrow walking room between the coach house and the life lines. It’s safer to scurry over the coach house to the mast or bow.I find the forward cuddy too short.So far, I’ve re-wired, (a previous owner thought it would be fun if all the positive wires were yellow, and half the ground wires were red, and the other half yellow. I really hate that guy)5 new keel bolts. (oh ….. the horror …)All lines now lead aft and there’s a nifty little 4:1 gizmo for my outhaul on the main that has the control end of the line about 1/3 of the way up the boom. (Once the main’s up, I can fly and adjust the whole boat without lifting my lazy butt off the seat)Yeah, your gonna love it, hate it, trust it with your life, use it, abuse it and treat it like a queen.Later, eh!Ferg