Can anyone tell me of any drawbacks or things to look out for to buying an older Catilina 27? There seem to be alot of 70's boats for sail in my area with the right price for me. This would be my first boat. Does a 25 to 30 year old boat have osmosis problems to deal with? Thanks
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Bob Horvath
Personal Experience
1. I would start out by having a diver check out the bottom for blisters (could cost $2K-4K to have fixed properly). 2. Definately have the boat hauled before you buy. Check for blisters and the famous Catalina smile (keel separation on the leading edge). 3. Check the keel bolts. Make sure they are sound. 4. I would pick a boat with good deck hardware and instrumentation even if it cost a little more. 5. Ask when the rigging was last replaced. Depending upon the environment it should be replaced every 5-10 years. 6. Take it for a sail and make sure everything works. 7. I would suggest having a marine inspector standing by if your are seriously interested once everything else checks out. The insurance company will most likely require an out of water inspection before they insure you.
1. I would start out by having a diver check out the bottom for blisters (could cost $2K-4K to have fixed properly). 2. Definately have the boat hauled before you buy. Check for blisters and the famous Catalina smile (keel separation on the leading edge). 3. Check the keel bolts. Make sure they are sound. 4. I would pick a boat with good deck hardware and instrumentation even if it cost a little more. 5. Ask when the rigging was last replaced. Depending upon the environment it should be replaced every 5-10 years. 6. Take it for a sail and make sure everything works. 7. I would suggest having a marine inspector standing by if your are seriously interested once everything else checks out. The insurance company will most likely require an out of water inspection before they insure you.
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Melody Miller
Things to Consider
Hi Gary: I own a 1976 Catalina 27. These items were either repaired before I bought the boat or need repairing now. Some are old design deficiencies (in my humble opinion.) Have the: windows been rebedded, chainplates been replaced or recently inspected, are you O.K. with the minimal anchor treatment . . no locker, roller, no nothin'! are you able to put your foot down straight when you walk on deck (between the cabin top and edge of boat (don't know the technical name for this area) . . I can't put my foot down straight and it annoys me. are any of the hatches cracking, and has the gas tank been replaced with a plastic one, I would ask specifically about these. Also get your surveyor to point out any soft spots on the deck and be prepared to repair them. Good luck, Melody These are what I would look out for.
Hi Gary: I own a 1976 Catalina 27. These items were either repaired before I bought the boat or need repairing now. Some are old design deficiencies (in my humble opinion.) Have the: windows been rebedded, chainplates been replaced or recently inspected, are you O.K. with the minimal anchor treatment . . no locker, roller, no nothin'! are you able to put your foot down straight when you walk on deck (between the cabin top and edge of boat (don't know the technical name for this area) . . I can't put my foot down straight and it annoys me. are any of the hatches cracking, and has the gas tank been replaced with a plastic one, I would ask specifically about these. Also get your surveyor to point out any soft spots on the deck and be prepared to repair them. Good luck, Melody These are what I would look out for.
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Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO
Older 27
Four things you should check for in an older Cat 27. First, the upper shroud chain plates attach to the main bulkhead inside the cabin. Water leaking in under the chain plates frequently rots the plywood bulkheads making the support of the mast doubtful. Second, the boat probably still has the old gate valves and pipe stubs instead of proper seacocks and thru hulls. If they aren't changed you will probably want to change them. Third, the mast may still have the cast aluminum spreader sockets which should be replaced with stainless steel sockets. Fourth you should check the chain plates for the lower shrouds. You can replace them fairly easily with stainless U-bolt fittings. Both the spreader bases and the U-bolt chain plates are available from Catalina Direct <www.catalinadirect.com>. I love my Cat 27 and you'll have fun with yours.
Four things you should check for in an older Cat 27. First, the upper shroud chain plates attach to the main bulkhead inside the cabin. Water leaking in under the chain plates frequently rots the plywood bulkheads making the support of the mast doubtful. Second, the boat probably still has the old gate valves and pipe stubs instead of proper seacocks and thru hulls. If they aren't changed you will probably want to change them. Third, the mast may still have the cast aluminum spreader sockets which should be replaced with stainless steel sockets. Fourth you should check the chain plates for the lower shrouds. You can replace them fairly easily with stainless U-bolt fittings. Both the spreader bases and the U-bolt chain plates are available from Catalina Direct <www.catalinadirect.com>. I love my Cat 27 and you'll have fun with yours.
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
What a great boat!
I love my '73. Everybody has seemed to cover most of the major problems you might come across. I had one of the lower shrouds let go this summer when a chainplate failed. I was lucky and immediately ordered the lower chainplate upgrade. The only real downside to older boats is that if they haven't had upgrades done, you'll need to do them yourself. So often times it is more economical to spend a little more on one that has had them done than buy the cheaper model & spend more in refits. Any way you look at it, you'll love this boat! LaDonna
I love my '73. Everybody has seemed to cover most of the major problems you might come across. I had one of the lower shrouds let go this summer when a chainplate failed. I was lucky and immediately ordered the lower chainplate upgrade. The only real downside to older boats is that if they haven't had upgrades done, you'll need to do them yourself. So often times it is more economical to spend a little more on one that has had them done than buy the cheaper model & spend more in refits. Any way you look at it, you'll love this boat! LaDonna
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Rob Rich
This Website
Gary - If you are looking into getting an older C-27, just keep your internet connection running and keep it tuned to this website. After reading the other replies here, I think everyone has pretty much covered the major areas of concerns with older C-27's. I purchased a 1979 in June, and it's been pretty hard to pry me out of it ever since. The best thing you can possibly do is get a marine survey on the vessel, unless it has had one by "an accredited surveyor" within the past two years. An accredited surveyor will be able to find 95% of the problems with the boat and actually help you adjust your purchase price accordingly. Most importantly - when you have a question, just log into this site and ask, or research the archives. I have found it invaluable, and advice from people like LaDonna, Gary, and Brain Pickton has made my life much easier. Above all, make sure you have a little streak of the "handyman" in you. You'll need it! Best of Luck, Rob Rich
Gary - If you are looking into getting an older C-27, just keep your internet connection running and keep it tuned to this website. After reading the other replies here, I think everyone has pretty much covered the major areas of concerns with older C-27's. I purchased a 1979 in June, and it's been pretty hard to pry me out of it ever since. The best thing you can possibly do is get a marine survey on the vessel, unless it has had one by "an accredited surveyor" within the past two years. An accredited surveyor will be able to find 95% of the problems with the boat and actually help you adjust your purchase price accordingly. Most importantly - when you have a question, just log into this site and ask, or research the archives. I have found it invaluable, and advice from people like LaDonna, Gary, and Brain Pickton has made my life much easier. Above all, make sure you have a little streak of the "handyman" in you. You'll need it! Best of Luck, Rob Rich
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Yes, Bob, a purple thumb is a must
Well, at least that's the color mine end up when I work on my boat! :-O LaDonna
Well, at least that's the color mine end up when I work on my boat! :-O LaDonna
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klaas nierop
osmosis
We own a 1981 Catalinaa 27. We puchased it in August of 1999. We did not do a servey on the boat as it had been in fresh water for the last 7 years. When we hauled it out of the water in winter we noticed some blisters, not to many but there were some. We asked the marina to take care of it.They sandblasted below the waterline and let it dry out for 4 months, after,they gave it a VC tar treatment. We took it out of the water a month ago and everything still looks great. We love our Catalina, Great starter boat, other than the few blisters we had nothing go wrong this season. Enjoy.
We own a 1981 Catalinaa 27. We puchased it in August of 1999. We did not do a servey on the boat as it had been in fresh water for the last 7 years. When we hauled it out of the water in winter we noticed some blisters, not to many but there were some. We asked the marina to take care of it.They sandblasted below the waterline and let it dry out for 4 months, after,they gave it a VC tar treatment. We took it out of the water a month ago and everything still looks great. We love our Catalina, Great starter boat, other than the few blisters we had nothing go wrong this season. Enjoy.
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Roger
Well maintained
I have a '74 C27 and have had it almost ten years. With bottom painting and hull cleaning each season it is in very good condition. Look for cracks along the topsides, cracks in the glas in the motor compartment (w/outboards) and replace the boom vang if it is the old cloth material type. I'm just about to sell mine and move to a C30.
I have a '74 C27 and have had it almost ten years. With bottom painting and hull cleaning each season it is in very good condition. Look for cracks along the topsides, cracks in the glas in the motor compartment (w/outboards) and replace the boom vang if it is the old cloth material type. I'm just about to sell mine and move to a C30.
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Bill Lucas
Go fo it!
I have a 77 and stripped the bottom this past summer; found patches of pock marks so there are osmosis problems but this type are considered to be cosmetic. Ended up filling and barrier coating. Aside from that check the bulkheads at the chainplates and along the bottom edges for rot; may need replacement. Check the nuts on the keel bolts; hopefully they've been replaced with stainless steel ones. Then check all the joints attaching the liner to the hull for cracks.
I have a 77 and stripped the bottom this past summer; found patches of pock marks so there are osmosis problems but this type are considered to be cosmetic. Ended up filling and barrier coating. Aside from that check the bulkheads at the chainplates and along the bottom edges for rot; may need replacement. Check the nuts on the keel bolts; hopefully they've been replaced with stainless steel ones. Then check all the joints attaching the liner to the hull for cracks.
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