Has anyone made any long trips on an C-H27. I am just curious to know how far out there people have ventured in this boat. Mine is quite well behaved in some petty rough weather.
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Re-Fit
The boat is well built and handles well for it's size but before considering any offshore passages I would advise a good Re-Fit. 1) Replace all thru the hulls and gate valves with ball types. I would put new seals in the instrument transducers and insure they are secure. 2) Replace packing gland and hose. 3) Conduct a thorough inspection of rudder and steering mechanism. Make sure the emergency tiller is aboard. 4) Insure you have secure locking hatches. Original equipment on these C-H27 are mostly all shot. Include Portholes. 5) Prepare a companionway board to seal cabin to at least cockpit seats height. Check drains inboard and out board and replace all hoses. 6) Tighten rails and get new lifelines. 7) Check standing and running rigging and have it tuned. 8) check the operation of the roller furler and insure it is running smooth. 9) Sails should in decent shape. Remember for this boat the driving sail is the Genoa so that is where I put my money. 10) Insure the single line reefing system for the main is operational. Install a boom vang which could be rigged as a preventer. 11) Add a SSB radio and radar if possible to monitor weather. Check all navigation lights and carry spare bulbs. 12) update your medicine kit and carry materials to rig repairs. 13) Auto-pilot would be advisable to reduce crew fatigue. I have not addressed engine concerns as the 8 HP Yanmar is mostly useless in heavy seas. If I were to consider extensive distance cruising I would move up to at least a 33. The H-27 is a coastal cruiser at best. Not to many cruisers out there hacking it on an old 27. The best thing about Florida is that you can go up and down the coast without having to go offshore. You can go all the way to the Dry Tortugas without an overnight passage.
The boat is well built and handles well for it's size but before considering any offshore passages I would advise a good Re-Fit. 1) Replace all thru the hulls and gate valves with ball types. I would put new seals in the instrument transducers and insure they are secure. 2) Replace packing gland and hose. 3) Conduct a thorough inspection of rudder and steering mechanism. Make sure the emergency tiller is aboard. 4) Insure you have secure locking hatches. Original equipment on these C-H27 are mostly all shot. Include Portholes. 5) Prepare a companionway board to seal cabin to at least cockpit seats height. Check drains inboard and out board and replace all hoses. 6) Tighten rails and get new lifelines. 7) Check standing and running rigging and have it tuned. 8) check the operation of the roller furler and insure it is running smooth. 9) Sails should in decent shape. Remember for this boat the driving sail is the Genoa so that is where I put my money. 10) Insure the single line reefing system for the main is operational. Install a boom vang which could be rigged as a preventer. 11) Add a SSB radio and radar if possible to monitor weather. Check all navigation lights and carry spare bulbs. 12) update your medicine kit and carry materials to rig repairs. 13) Auto-pilot would be advisable to reduce crew fatigue. I have not addressed engine concerns as the 8 HP Yanmar is mostly useless in heavy seas. If I were to consider extensive distance cruising I would move up to at least a 33. The H-27 is a coastal cruiser at best. Not to many cruisers out there hacking it on an old 27. The best thing about Florida is that you can go up and down the coast without having to go offshore. You can go all the way to the Dry Tortugas without an overnight passage.
75-84 H27 is well designed for blue water
Tom Manilili sailed his Florida to Cancun every year for a while. His review and modification are at the link below. One of our Dutch members is fitting his for an Atlantic crossing. With good overhangs, a capsize screen below 2, a solid hull, and sensible sail plan and cockpit, the h27 design like all those by Cherubini is very capable if properly strengthened, and adapted. Check out Henk Meuzelaar's modifications to prepare his h42 for blue water for more good ideas. The manual for the West Marine Transpac race also has a good checklist. Benny's earlier post has 13 good suggestions, many of which are also recommended for shorter cruises. Unlike many modern models, the h27 was designed for blue water, even if most of us use them on coastal cruises. Search the archives for "blue water" to find plenty of opinions, and helpful ideas. Oh, about the engine - when the going gets rough, storm/try sails, the ability to heave to, and appropriate heavy weather gear and tactics are much more important than any size of engine. Persist. Read about blue water cruising. Be sure you and your crew will be able to enjoy the cruise in a smaller hull. Make the required modifications fo hull, rigging, safety systems, electronics, and storage - then go for it. David Lady Lillie
Tom Manilili sailed his Florida to Cancun every year for a while. His review and modification are at the link below. One of our Dutch members is fitting his for an Atlantic crossing. With good overhangs, a capsize screen below 2, a solid hull, and sensible sail plan and cockpit, the h27 design like all those by Cherubini is very capable if properly strengthened, and adapted. Check out Henk Meuzelaar's modifications to prepare his h42 for blue water for more good ideas. The manual for the West Marine Transpac race also has a good checklist. Benny's earlier post has 13 good suggestions, many of which are also recommended for shorter cruises. Unlike many modern models, the h27 was designed for blue water, even if most of us use them on coastal cruises. Search the archives for "blue water" to find plenty of opinions, and helpful ideas. Oh, about the engine - when the going gets rough, storm/try sails, the ability to heave to, and appropriate heavy weather gear and tactics are much more important than any size of engine. Persist. Read about blue water cruising. Be sure you and your crew will be able to enjoy the cruise in a smaller hull. Make the required modifications fo hull, rigging, safety systems, electronics, and storage - then go for it. David Lady Lillie
I haven't, but my boat has
Mid coast Maine to Halifax, that's pretty blue. I would point out however, that I noted the owner review in the previous post added ribs. I had a stress crack aft of the keel and upon opening things up to repair ended up adding one stringer (rib), replacing two, and re laminating 3 others, all in the area of the keel. These all showed damage in the existing glass work from flexing. This is a early 27.
Mid coast Maine to Halifax, that's pretty blue. I would point out however, that I noted the owner review in the previous post added ribs. I had a stress crack aft of the keel and upon opening things up to repair ended up adding one stringer (rib), replacing two, and re laminating 3 others, all in the area of the keel. These all showed damage in the existing glass work from flexing. This is a early 27.
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