Just sold my Oday 20, and I've been looking at Catalina 27's. Are all the years that they were built roughly the same or are there some I should stay away from Thanks
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Skip
Go for it!
There are two different cabin configurations, and a tall and short rig. From all I know all years are about equal. Don't disregard older boats. I have a 1975 and she is fine. She will need a paint job next year but that is for cosmetic reasons. Good luck. Skip "Kid Napper" Catalina 27
There are two different cabin configurations, and a tall and short rig. From all I know all years are about equal. Don't disregard older boats. I have a 1975 and she is fine. She will need a paint job next year but that is for cosmetic reasons. Good luck. Skip "Kid Napper" Catalina 27
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Scott
1988 on....
Rick, Last fall I spent a lot of time up and down the east coast looking for a Catalina 27. I started my search at the 1986 year and soon realized that the 1988 model and on had several design changes for the better. The V-berth hatch on the 1988 model has a "see-through" hatch versus a solid hatch, in my opion this adds a lot of need light to the v-berth. The boom was upgraded on the 1988 model for the better. Hot pressure water on the 1988 model was almost standard. There are other small changes in the newer boats as well. Buy the newest boat you can. Look at yachtworld.com and boattraderonline.com. I looked at a lot of Catalina 27's. I went all the way to Maine, from New Jersey to look at the 1989 listed on yachtworld. I was told the boat was in perfect condition and come on up!! When I got there I found out why the hull was painted blue. The boat was damaged in Hurricane Bob in 1991. My point is ask the broker and owner a lot of questions before buying and get a good survey. I ended up finding a 1988 Catalina 27 in OHIO. FRESH water Boat. Again, try to find a clean, well maintained 1988 or newer model. Good Luck
Rick, Last fall I spent a lot of time up and down the east coast looking for a Catalina 27. I started my search at the 1986 year and soon realized that the 1988 model and on had several design changes for the better. The V-berth hatch on the 1988 model has a "see-through" hatch versus a solid hatch, in my opion this adds a lot of need light to the v-berth. The boom was upgraded on the 1988 model for the better. Hot pressure water on the 1988 model was almost standard. There are other small changes in the newer boats as well. Buy the newest boat you can. Look at yachtworld.com and boattraderonline.com. I looked at a lot of Catalina 27's. I went all the way to Maine, from New Jersey to look at the 1989 listed on yachtworld. I was told the boat was in perfect condition and come on up!! When I got there I found out why the hull was painted blue. The boat was damaged in Hurricane Bob in 1991. My point is ask the broker and owner a lot of questions before buying and get a good survey. I ended up finding a 1988 Catalina 27 in OHIO. FRESH water Boat. Again, try to find a clean, well maintained 1988 or newer model. Good Luck
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Don
Buying a C-27
There is a lot of information in the archives and on the Internation C-27 website on what to look for in a 27. In a nutshell, it depends on your budget and sailing plans. If you plan on mainly daysailing and racing, an older outboard/tiller model should do you fine. If you plan on cruising, an inboard/wheel might suit you better. Many small changes occured over the 20 year production run. Somewhere around mid 1985, Catalina made the most signicant changes with a re-designed deck and interior. The forward hatch was moved over the v-berth, anchor locker enlarged, chain plates beefed up, spreader sockets made from stainless, windows changed to smokey lexan, v-berth made larger, galley wraps around under the companionway, improved electrical panel and wiring, coamings made wider, and larger winches, just to name a few.
There is a lot of information in the archives and on the Internation C-27 website on what to look for in a 27. In a nutshell, it depends on your budget and sailing plans. If you plan on mainly daysailing and racing, an older outboard/tiller model should do you fine. If you plan on cruising, an inboard/wheel might suit you better. Many small changes occured over the 20 year production run. Somewhere around mid 1985, Catalina made the most signicant changes with a re-designed deck and interior. The forward hatch was moved over the v-berth, anchor locker enlarged, chain plates beefed up, spreader sockets made from stainless, windows changed to smokey lexan, v-berth made larger, galley wraps around under the companionway, improved electrical panel and wiring, coamings made wider, and larger winches, just to name a few.
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Roger
The Price is Right
The number one consideration for looking at C27's is price range. If money is no object, then why look at our beloved but time consuming antique plastic? When I did my search I had a budget, in my case a purchase price of under $12K. That set the parameters to pre-1983 or so. There are a lot for sale, so you can get a pretty good idea of where the price points are. The best advice I got about boat buying was from an experienced sailor who told me that I should expect to spend half again the purchase price on repairs and upgrades the first year (in addition to annual costs like mooring, storage etc.) He was right on the money. I got a 1982 C27 for %10,500, and spent $5000 on it during year one, and still did not get the new cushion covers and dodger that I had hoped for! Roger & Mabel C27 #5012 (October 1982- standard rig/standard interior/5411 Universal diesel/tiller/CDI RF/ lines led aft/anchor locker with deck door) Cape Cod
The number one consideration for looking at C27's is price range. If money is no object, then why look at our beloved but time consuming antique plastic? When I did my search I had a budget, in my case a purchase price of under $12K. That set the parameters to pre-1983 or so. There are a lot for sale, so you can get a pretty good idea of where the price points are. The best advice I got about boat buying was from an experienced sailor who told me that I should expect to spend half again the purchase price on repairs and upgrades the first year (in addition to annual costs like mooring, storage etc.) He was right on the money. I got a 1982 C27 for %10,500, and spent $5000 on it during year one, and still did not get the new cushion covers and dodger that I had hoped for! Roger & Mabel C27 #5012 (October 1982- standard rig/standard interior/5411 Universal diesel/tiller/CDI RF/ lines led aft/anchor locker with deck door) Cape Cod
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Joe
Check out the Unofficial website
You should find a checklist of things to look for when analyzing the boat. If you want an inboard make sure you have the motor surveyed (analyzed). Engine repairs are often more costly than the boat's value.
You should find a checklist of things to look for when analyzing the boat. If you want an inboard make sure you have the motor surveyed (analyzed). Engine repairs are often more costly than the boat's value.
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Rick Smith
Rick, The boats evolved over the years, as problems were identified modifications were made to the basic design. When I was looking prior to buying, I looked at hull nbr. 380 and compared it with the boat I actually bought, hull nbr. 5901. It was night and day. As to if there are any you should stay away from, be very careful of boats built between 1979 and 1984 since the builders were trying alternative resins and those years are especially prone to osmotic blistering. In a boat built during those years, look for one whoose bottom has been given an epoxy job. Depending on if you are interested in racing, you need to choose between an outboard or an inboard. The outboard boats are much lighter and faster, but are penalized by a higher PHRF handicap (195 vs 210 for an inboard) I have an inboard because I am not sure that a 9.9 HP outboard is enough power for a boat that weighs over 3 tons. I hope this helps and I hope you but a 27. They are great boats, there area lot of them out there, the factory still supports them and they are a blast to sail. Rick Smith Second Chance #5901
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