I have an opportunity to buy a C-27 very reasonably. Would this boat make a decent long range cruiser?????
Catalina 27 for cruising?????
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Its a question of fortitude
I occasionally hear of folks crossing the Gulf in Compac 16's or heading to Hawaii in Westwight Potters, and I wonder what the main ingredient is behind these decisions. Obviously you can cruise in any boat if you have the intestinal fortitude and skills to handle it! Long range cruising (I will assume coastal) in a well equippped 27 Catalina would not be a bad choice considering several factors (headroom, diesel power, large cockpit, great sailplan, shoal draft, good interior space and storage). I am sure that with the thousands of 27 Catalina's on the water, you will find that many have taken long voyages aboard. If your planning on a serious ocean passage, you better beef up the rigging, look for the deep keel version and know what the heck your doing! Like I said, its often just an issue of intestinal fortitude. If indeed however, you are looking at intracoastal/coastal cruising the 27 Catalina is for some, about all the boat you need. Good Luck Bob
I occasionally hear of folks crossing the Gulf in Compac 16's or heading to Hawaii in Westwight Potters, and I wonder what the main ingredient is behind these decisions. Obviously you can cruise in any boat if you have the intestinal fortitude and skills to handle it! Long range cruising (I will assume coastal) in a well equippped 27 Catalina would not be a bad choice considering several factors (headroom, diesel power, large cockpit, great sailplan, shoal draft, good interior space and storage). I am sure that with the thousands of 27 Catalina's on the water, you will find that many have taken long voyages aboard. If your planning on a serious ocean passage, you better beef up the rigging, look for the deep keel version and know what the heck your doing! Like I said, its often just an issue of intestinal fortitude. If indeed however, you are looking at intracoastal/coastal cruising the 27 Catalina is for some, about all the boat you need. Good Luck Bob
Thanks!
I want to leave Texas and cruise to Central America. I have looked at a lot of boats. Every once in a while a 'deal' comes along. Whether it's the right boat for me is another story. I hear all kinds of stories about this subject and a lot of people swear that I can do the trip on much less boat than I had in mind...others think you need at least a 40 footer. So, maybe, a Catalina 27 isn't the right boat for this type of journey....but there's a lot of folks who'll tell ya an Albin Vega is (also a 27 footer). Is there really that much difference between the two?
I want to leave Texas and cruise to Central America. I have looked at a lot of boats. Every once in a while a 'deal' comes along. Whether it's the right boat for me is another story. I hear all kinds of stories about this subject and a lot of people swear that I can do the trip on much less boat than I had in mind...others think you need at least a 40 footer. So, maybe, a Catalina 27 isn't the right boat for this type of journey....but there's a lot of folks who'll tell ya an Albin Vega is (also a 27 footer). Is there really that much difference between the two?
Blue water cruiser
me, you will most likely get some replies from some experts, of which I am not one, but, as far as I know, the 27' Catalina is not considered a blue water cruiser, but more of a coastal cruiser. Sure, you could probably make the trip without event, but the thing about true blue water cruisers is that they are designed to withstand the possibly brutal conditions that you just might encounter out in the deep blue ocean, far away from any help. The 27' Catalina, on the other hand is not really designed or built for that role. You could adapt the boat for that role with some modifications in rigging and so forth, but my impression is that the boat was designed as a coastal cruiser, and as long as you do not encounter some brutal conditions, everything would probably be OK, but then, you never know when you may encounter such conditions. Hope it all works out well for you.
me, you will most likely get some replies from some experts, of which I am not one, but, as far as I know, the 27' Catalina is not considered a blue water cruiser, but more of a coastal cruiser. Sure, you could probably make the trip without event, but the thing about true blue water cruisers is that they are designed to withstand the possibly brutal conditions that you just might encounter out in the deep blue ocean, far away from any help. The 27' Catalina, on the other hand is not really designed or built for that role. You could adapt the boat for that role with some modifications in rigging and so forth, but my impression is that the boat was designed as a coastal cruiser, and as long as you do not encounter some brutal conditions, everything would probably be OK, but then, you never know when you may encounter such conditions. Hope it all works out well for you.
Cat 27 could do, but maybe not the best
The Cat 27 was designed as a coastal cruiser. If you're going to take a coastal route to Central America, that may be fine. Patrick Childress circumnavigated in a Cat27 in the late '70s/early '80s, when he was in his twenties. But when asked recently if he'd do it again in a Cat27, he said he'd rather have a more suitable boat (I paraphrase). The Vega 27, on the other hand, is designed more for offshore, long distance trips. And yes, the intent of the builder can have a dramatic effect on the suitablility of a boat for a purpose. Get Jon Vigor's book "20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere". He does a good job of analyzing various boats (including the Cat27) for the purpose of a blue water cruise. It has a list of modifications Childress did to Juggernaut to make her suitable for his circumnavigation. (Juggernaut's still sailing, by the way.) GOod luck!
The Cat 27 was designed as a coastal cruiser. If you're going to take a coastal route to Central America, that may be fine. Patrick Childress circumnavigated in a Cat27 in the late '70s/early '80s, when he was in his twenties. But when asked recently if he'd do it again in a Cat27, he said he'd rather have a more suitable boat (I paraphrase). The Vega 27, on the other hand, is designed more for offshore, long distance trips. And yes, the intent of the builder can have a dramatic effect on the suitablility of a boat for a purpose. Get Jon Vigor's book "20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere". He does a good job of analyzing various boats (including the Cat27) for the purpose of a blue water cruise. It has a list of modifications Childress did to Juggernaut to make her suitable for his circumnavigation. (Juggernaut's still sailing, by the way.) GOod luck!
For Coastal local Texas waters, good to go
Your question seems to me to indicate you don't have a lot of experience with a larger sailboat. The Catalina is a good boat, a great boat in fact to learn on and acquire experience on the water. If the boat is being sold at a great price, I'd say go for it and apply the "tender loving care" it probably needs coming at that price. Sailors from Seattle and up, including Vancouver and Vancouver Island sailors have taken the boat up to Alaska and back without any problems. In Texas, I wouldn't have any problems sailing a Cat 27 from Galveston to South Padre Island (at the Mexican border) and back, for example.
Your question seems to me to indicate you don't have a lot of experience with a larger sailboat. The Catalina is a good boat, a great boat in fact to learn on and acquire experience on the water. If the boat is being sold at a great price, I'd say go for it and apply the "tender loving care" it probably needs coming at that price. Sailors from Seattle and up, including Vancouver and Vancouver Island sailors have taken the boat up to Alaska and back without any problems. In Texas, I wouldn't have any problems sailing a Cat 27 from Galveston to South Padre Island (at the Mexican border) and back, for example.
Crusing
I have a CAT27 and use it often for a 200 mile race in Alaska (See May SAIL for a summary of the race). The CAT27 is what I would call a "weekend" boat)..Nice for about 3 days and that is about it....We race for a week and it is strain for long races....Fuel is limited as is water so that is a real consideration for long times. We go for eight days and have to pre-locate fuel (of course this is Alaska and there is not a fuel station within 50-miles of each area) and water has to be worked out. As for the boat I love the CAT27. I have rigged mine with all the "goodies" that make sailing fun. Best part is that I have been able to do it without a richmans fortune. You can buy a hull at bargin prices and then put your money into things like various types of sails and spinnakers. In short it is a great hobby boat. Best of luck to you. As for long costal runs I would not recommend it.....Go for a true crusing boat...
I have a CAT27 and use it often for a 200 mile race in Alaska (See May SAIL for a summary of the race). The CAT27 is what I would call a "weekend" boat)..Nice for about 3 days and that is about it....We race for a week and it is strain for long races....Fuel is limited as is water so that is a real consideration for long times. We go for eight days and have to pre-locate fuel (of course this is Alaska and there is not a fuel station within 50-miles of each area) and water has to be worked out. As for the boat I love the CAT27. I have rigged mine with all the "goodies" that make sailing fun. Best part is that I have been able to do it without a richmans fortune. You can buy a hull at bargin prices and then put your money into things like various types of sails and spinnakers. In short it is a great hobby boat. Best of luck to you. As for long costal runs I would not recommend it.....Go for a true crusing boat...
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