Response to "How does she sail?"
Bob, Just saw your inquiry about the 272. I have owned mine since 1995 and have enjoyed the boat very much. Three years ago I purchased new sails, a 155% Genoa and a new full-batten Main with a rather full roach and two sets of reef points. I have never used the upper set, but I sail on Lakes Erie and Huron and have never been out in really rough weather. Our 272 sails well when the wind reaches 10k. Anything under that and she is slow and doesn't point well. I usually sail pretty much upright when my wife is on board which means reef early and ease the main and jenny sheets. When I'm alone or with an adventurous crew, I'll push her close to the rail, but she doesn't really sail that well heeled over. The wing keel permits sailing in shallow water at times, but she doesn't point well. I can tack through 115-120 degrees in a brisk wind, but that's about the best she'll do. Ours is powered by a Westerbeke 2-10. To get her up close to hull speed under power, I have to run the engine at 3500 rpms, which I never do. She is comfortable at 5.5k and 3000 rpms. I have sailed her from western Lake Erie through the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair,the St. Clair River and up Lake Huron into the North Channel. She is comfortable for two on a cruise; however, motoring is noisy and sometimes we're stuck with little or no wind and have to grind it out. I'm rambling a little bit here, but if you want to talk more, you can reach me at tomclaud@wcnet.org. Tom Ehmke
