Hello - Have been looking for some time for a first "big" boat for me and my family (wife and 11 year old - both introduced to sailing through a weekend course last August). I keep going back to the 27's, which are available in abundance around the lower Chesapeake. I've been looking at models since the mid-80s. Have also looked at 30s in the area. A 1990 28 has come on the market not too far away and it seems to be a good compromise between the 27 and the 30 (which I'd worry would be a bit too much to handle right of, though I suspect we'd "grow" into it -- and I'm aware of the advice to buy more than you'd think you'd need.) Anyway, I'm interested in opinions of folks out there comparing the 27 and the 28 for a novice sailor. I know there's a higher price tag to the 28, but it seems like it might be a bit more stiff and forgiving of the inevitable learning mistakes we'd make. Thanks in advance for you advice. Patrick
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
B
BW
I have heard that the 27 is actually a better ...
boat, although I have never sailed a 28. The limited number of folks I talked to about the difference seemed to think the 27 sailed better, and its less of an investment. A friend of mine has a 27 in Annapolis and seems to like it. I have sailed it and really enjoyed it. All that being said, I just bought a C30 a couple of weeks ago. She sails like a dream! Depending on your budget you may want to consider a 30. Good luck! Bill
boat, although I have never sailed a 28. The limited number of folks I talked to about the difference seemed to think the 27 sailed better, and its less of an investment. A friend of mine has a 27 in Annapolis and seems to like it. I have sailed it and really enjoyed it. All that being said, I just bought a C30 a couple of weeks ago. She sails like a dream! Depending on your budget you may want to consider a 30. Good luck! Bill
G
Gerry
First Big Boat
I don't know much about the 28 either, but my family also purchased a 27 for our first boat and 2 years later we are still happy with the decision. It allowed us to get a taste for sailing without a large investment. We now know what features to look for when we move up and were able to learn to sail a relatively forgiving boat.
I don't know much about the 28 either, but my family also purchased a 27 for our first boat and 2 years later we are still happy with the decision. It allowed us to get a taste for sailing without a large investment. We now know what features to look for when we move up and were able to learn to sail a relatively forgiving boat.
S
Stanley J. Rogacevicz
Big Difference
Patrick, I'm not sure of the exact changes from the 90 c28 to the 96 c28mkII #408 that I used to own, but I know the mkII is Much larger from the mast back than the c27. The wide stern of the mkII allows you to roam around in the cockpit and for 2 people to roll around the the large berth under it. c27, c28, or c30 are all going to be overwhelming at first, but it, whatever IT ends up, will shrink fast. The newer design c28 has many little items that make it seem more livable, but they may not be worth the extra money to You. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
Patrick, I'm not sure of the exact changes from the 90 c28 to the 96 c28mkII #408 that I used to own, but I know the mkII is Much larger from the mast back than the c27. The wide stern of the mkII allows you to roam around in the cockpit and for 2 people to roll around the the large berth under it. c27, c28, or c30 are all going to be overwhelming at first, but it, whatever IT ends up, will shrink fast. The newer design c28 has many little items that make it seem more livable, but they may not be worth the extra money to You. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
R
Randy
Hard to go wrong with the 27
I think it's hard to go wrong with the 27. They sail well, have enough size and mass to be comfortable, aren't so big as to be unweildy for a shorthanded crew, and are easy to find. I know very little about the 28, other than it appears to be a good-looking boat. Since they're newer, they tend to be more money. The 30 seems to be a great boat, although I don't know too much about them either. A comparable 30 will be more money than a 27. Good luck in your search. Randy
I think it's hard to go wrong with the 27. They sail well, have enough size and mass to be comfortable, aren't so big as to be unweildy for a shorthanded crew, and are easy to find. I know very little about the 28, other than it appears to be a good-looking boat. Since they're newer, they tend to be more money. The 30 seems to be a great boat, although I don't know too much about them either. A comparable 30 will be more money than a 27. Good luck in your search. Randy
B
Bob Carlton
27 v. 28 is more than 12"
I've got a 1994 28'MKII Tall Rig and have been on several older (early to late 80s) 27s. My 28 has a LOA of 28' 4" and a beam of 10'4". It displaces 8,600lbs. and has 3,500 lbs. of ballast. The 27 (per the info on the "spec" site accessable through this web page) lists the LOA for 27s at 26' 10" and the beam at 8' 10". The displacement is 6,750 with ballast of 2,700. The beam and displacement (obviously) make the 28 feel and sail like a bigger, more stable boat. By contrast, the 27 feels and sails like a more nimble boat. The best test is to sail both in similar conditions and decide which you like more. A lot of 28s have a wheel. Most 27s I've seen have a tiller. Most agree that the tiller has a better feel but the wheel allows you to steer without displacing passangers sitting in the arc. Also, a lot of 27s have outboards which allows for more storage where the inboard would otherwise be. Winterizing and maintaining an outboard is arguably easier and replacement is cheaper and faster. However, having the outboard prop pop out of the water in rough seas is a pain. Ultimately, the room in the cockpit and cabin may be a factor. Will you sail with friends and family or just the three of you? Is it to be used for a day sailor or more extended sailing and time on board? If money is an issue, I think you get a lot of boat with either the 27 or 28, but the 27 is the obvious winner in the purchase price department. As you mentioned, and I agree, the 28 is a good compromise if you're looking at a 30'. All things being equal, a bigger boat requires more time and money to maintain, moor, repair and replace stuff. You can go to the store on this site and compare the current replacement cost for sails for both from Doyle. Good luck.
I've got a 1994 28'MKII Tall Rig and have been on several older (early to late 80s) 27s. My 28 has a LOA of 28' 4" and a beam of 10'4". It displaces 8,600lbs. and has 3,500 lbs. of ballast. The 27 (per the info on the "spec" site accessable through this web page) lists the LOA for 27s at 26' 10" and the beam at 8' 10". The displacement is 6,750 with ballast of 2,700. The beam and displacement (obviously) make the 28 feel and sail like a bigger, more stable boat. By contrast, the 27 feels and sails like a more nimble boat. The best test is to sail both in similar conditions and decide which you like more. A lot of 28s have a wheel. Most 27s I've seen have a tiller. Most agree that the tiller has a better feel but the wheel allows you to steer without displacing passangers sitting in the arc. Also, a lot of 27s have outboards which allows for more storage where the inboard would otherwise be. Winterizing and maintaining an outboard is arguably easier and replacement is cheaper and faster. However, having the outboard prop pop out of the water in rough seas is a pain. Ultimately, the room in the cockpit and cabin may be a factor. Will you sail with friends and family or just the three of you? Is it to be used for a day sailor or more extended sailing and time on board? If money is an issue, I think you get a lot of boat with either the 27 or 28, but the 27 is the obvious winner in the purchase price department. As you mentioned, and I agree, the 28 is a good compromise if you're looking at a 30'. All things being equal, a bigger boat requires more time and money to maintain, moor, repair and replace stuff. You can go to the store on this site and compare the current replacement cost for sails for both from Doyle. Good luck.
B
Bob Carlton
P.S.
Patrick: After reviewing your question and my answer, I realized that I could, and should, have simply said: "Find a boat you like and can afford, have it surveyed, and buy it if the boat is solid." However, I neglected to tell you the most important thing. It is something for which few first time boat owners are prepared. It does not matter which boat you buy, you will discover that you, like all of us, are weak. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will immediately catch yourself looking at other boats, with envy. You may be the commodore of your yacht club with blood bluer than your blazer and a 36 footer to die for, but that doesn't prohibit you from, inexplicably, being drawn to a day sailor on a trailer. She may have a bright red sail cover which is slightly too small and sometimes you can catch a glimpse of the mainsail spilling beneath the cover because she does't even have a boom vang. You can almost hear the snide comments: "She's just trailer trash" or "I hear he promised her roller furling." But you can't help it. Or you might glance over your shoulder to catch a Beneteau slip quietly by in the light evening breeze under a fully unfurled genoa. You don't even speak french, but you tell yourself that you and she speak the universal language- love. Then one day you catch yourself with thoughts that you can't even hide from your therapist. You admit that you like the looks of the Grand Banks. You placate yourself by limiting your lust to the older woodies, but you still feel guilty. Suddenly you can sympathize with the alleged polygamist whose been on day-time talk shows and is currently on trial for having 5 wives and 25 kids because 5 boats and 25 dinghies doesn't seem unreasonable to you. So Patrick, the best thing you can do is buy a boat and begin making immediate redemption payments for moorage to make up for your inevitable indiscretions. Again, good luck.
Patrick: After reviewing your question and my answer, I realized that I could, and should, have simply said: "Find a boat you like and can afford, have it surveyed, and buy it if the boat is solid." However, I neglected to tell you the most important thing. It is something for which few first time boat owners are prepared. It does not matter which boat you buy, you will discover that you, like all of us, are weak. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will immediately catch yourself looking at other boats, with envy. You may be the commodore of your yacht club with blood bluer than your blazer and a 36 footer to die for, but that doesn't prohibit you from, inexplicably, being drawn to a day sailor on a trailer. She may have a bright red sail cover which is slightly too small and sometimes you can catch a glimpse of the mainsail spilling beneath the cover because she does't even have a boom vang. You can almost hear the snide comments: "She's just trailer trash" or "I hear he promised her roller furling." But you can't help it. Or you might glance over your shoulder to catch a Beneteau slip quietly by in the light evening breeze under a fully unfurled genoa. You don't even speak french, but you tell yourself that you and she speak the universal language- love. Then one day you catch yourself with thoughts that you can't even hide from your therapist. You admit that you like the looks of the Grand Banks. You placate yourself by limiting your lust to the older woodies, but you still feel guilty. Suddenly you can sympathize with the alleged polygamist whose been on day-time talk shows and is currently on trial for having 5 wives and 25 kids because 5 boats and 25 dinghies doesn't seem unreasonable to you. So Patrick, the best thing you can do is buy a boat and begin making immediate redemption payments for moorage to make up for your inevitable indiscretions. Again, good luck.
B
Bob Camarena
Skip the 28
I owned a 27 and moved up to a 30. My advice would be to either go straight to the 30 or buy an older (and less expensive) 27. I see no advantage in "compromising" with the 28. You'll spend as much for a 28 as you would for many 30's. I loved my 27 and now love my 30. If you plan on frequent overnighters or longer, definitely consider the 30.
I owned a 27 and moved up to a 30. My advice would be to either go straight to the 30 or buy an older (and less expensive) 27. I see no advantage in "compromising" with the 28. You'll spend as much for a 28 as you would for many 30's. I loved my 27 and now love my 30. If you plan on frequent overnighters or longer, definitely consider the 30.
L
LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
I agree Bob
Either save your pennies and go for the 27 so your family can get used to sailing or just take the leap and expect a high learning curve. You'll love either boat and for the price of a newer 28, you can get a really decent 30 and won't have to move up as soon as you probably would with the 27. LaDonna
Either save your pennies and go for the 27 so your family can get used to sailing or just take the leap and expect a high learning curve. You'll love either boat and for the price of a newer 28, you can get a really decent 30 and won't have to move up as soon as you probably would with the 27. LaDonna
J
Jack
Get the cleanest, newest boat you can afford...
outfitted with as much equipment as you can get, i.e. roller furling, dodger, sails etc. Installing new equipment is really expensive after the fact and it can take a long time. You pay a steep discount when it is already on the boat.
outfitted with as much equipment as you can get, i.e. roller furling, dodger, sails etc. Installing new equipment is really expensive after the fact and it can take a long time. You pay a steep discount when it is already on the boat.
S
Steve L.
Go for the 30!
27s are great boats but the difference between a C27 and a C30 in terms of space and comfort is HUGE. My recommendation - stretch yourself and go for a 30' if you can afford it.
27s are great boats but the difference between a C27 and a C30 in terms of space and comfort is HUGE. My recommendation - stretch yourself and go for a 30' if you can afford it.
B
Bruce Harkness
'27 is a great boat
If you plan on sailing single handed a '27 is a dream. One of the compromises of going to a larger boat like a '30 is that they can be a pain to sail and dock on your own. I have sailed both single handed, If I had a '30 it would stay at the dock a lot more.
If you plan on sailing single handed a '27 is a dream. One of the compromises of going to a larger boat like a '30 is that they can be a pain to sail and dock on your own. I have sailed both single handed, If I had a '30 it would stay at the dock a lot more.
D
Drew
Bob has a point...
Bob was right--no matter which boat you get you will soon find yourself dreaming of something bigger. First boats are that way... I'd recommend going with the 27 for now. Try to find one in good condition, with the equipment that you think you want, and for as little money as possible. Use that boat for the next few years while you learn more about sailing and sail boats. Trust me--what you look for in a boat now is a lot different than what you will want once you've got a few years experience.
Bob was right--no matter which boat you get you will soon find yourself dreaming of something bigger. First boats are that way... I'd recommend going with the 27 for now. Try to find one in good condition, with the equipment that you think you want, and for as little money as possible. Use that boat for the next few years while you learn more about sailing and sail boats. Trust me--what you look for in a boat now is a lot different than what you will want once you've got a few years experience.
S
Stuart Gordon
27 vs 28 - no real comparison
The Catalina 27 and 28 are very different boats and serve a different niche. The 28 is a noticeably larger and more comfortable boat. It has a greater ballast to displacement ratio. The question is how will you be using the boat? With the larger ballast to displacement ratio the 28 will be more comfortable in larger waves and heavier winds. It is a stiffer boat. No question about it. If you are going to always day sail or spend an occasional weekend, and will be in more protected waters, then the C 27 is all you need. While the C-28 is easy to single hand, the 27 is even easier - due to her smaller sail area. Also, her lighter displacement makes her easier to manhandle at the docks. If you will be venturing into bigger waters you'll appreciate the sailing comfort of the C28. I have sailed both boats in numerous conditions and like them both. Decide how you will use the boat and what your budget is. They are both fine boats.
The Catalina 27 and 28 are very different boats and serve a different niche. The 28 is a noticeably larger and more comfortable boat. It has a greater ballast to displacement ratio. The question is how will you be using the boat? With the larger ballast to displacement ratio the 28 will be more comfortable in larger waves and heavier winds. It is a stiffer boat. No question about it. If you are going to always day sail or spend an occasional weekend, and will be in more protected waters, then the C 27 is all you need. While the C-28 is easy to single hand, the 27 is even easier - due to her smaller sail area. Also, her lighter displacement makes her easier to manhandle at the docks. If you will be venturing into bigger waters you'll appreciate the sailing comfort of the C28. I have sailed both boats in numerous conditions and like them both. Decide how you will use the boat and what your budget is. They are both fine boats.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.