Looking for some input on a C27 I'm looking to purchase...

[wannabe_cat_owner]

Hi Gang!
I'm looking to buy my first sailboat, and I'm currently very interested in a 1978 Catalina 27 that's for sale near me. I was looking for some input from some Catalina owners to see if what I'm looking at is a good deal. I'm new to the forums so if this is the wrong place to ask, please let me know and I'll move it!

Here are the details:
-Main is in fair condition, several years old but still "crisp"
-Jib is in good condition
-All the lines seem to be in good condition
-Bottom job done in 2013, hasn't been sailed very often since
-New 27" ash tiller with cover
-1981 Honda 7.5hp engine, regularly serviced
-Bulkhead mount compass
-Garmin eTrex
-Raymarine st40
-Handheld VHF

A few issues:
-Windows leak (caulk is pulled out from the seams)
-Stove and head inoperable
-Door to head is missing
-Missing some cushions
-Needs a new bilge pump, but has a manual one
-Decks need a paint job
-May need some wiring done inside for interior lights/speakers, but electronics outside all seem to work

Overall the boat looks great in person, and I'm not worried about making the repairs myself, but I want to make sure I get a reasonable price given the issues that do exist. I'm currently in a buyers market since the lake here is so low these days. The seller is asking $3300 for it, but I'd really like to try to get him down to $2500. In general, do you think that's a fair price for a boat this size?

 

[The Garbone]

Sounds like a decent price. My first boat was a 74 C27. Does it have the outboard well or is the motor on a bracket?

Check the thru hulls, factory was glassed in nipples and gate valves. Both a bad idea an need replacement. Check the compression block in the bilge for rot.

The windows can be pulled and rebed with butyl tape, easy but time consuming.

$2500 is a fair price.

Little worried about the no installed vhf but that is just me.

 

[wannabe_cat_owner]

Sounds like a decent price. My first boat was a 74 C27. Does it have the outboard well or is the motor on a bracket?

Check the thru hulls, factory was glassed in nipples and gate valves. Both a bad idea an need replacement. Check the compression block in the bilge for rot.

The windows can be pulled and rebed with butyl tape, easy but time consuming.

$2500 is a fair price.

Little worried about the no installed vhf but that is just me.

Thanks so much for your response!

It has the outboard well and that's where the engine is mounted right now, but it also has a bracket on the back so it could be moved if necessary. The guy mentioned that it's a tight fit in the well, so he usually just puts it down and leaves it down while sailing. If that becomes annoying I may just move it to the bracket. Do you know of any pros/cons for using one over the other?

I didn't check the thru hulls when I last looked at it, but I will definitely do that when I go back, thanks for the input! Everything looked fine around the bilge, but I'll definitely give it a closer look for rot as well. Now that I'm reading up on it more that sounds like it can be a common place for issues.

Good to know about the windows...I was thinking I could just re-caulk around where it is peeling out (see attached picture), but your suggestion sounds like a longer term solution and worth the effort.

Did you ever have to replace the head, or at least the pump to it in yours? From what he said is wrong with it (will flush if you pour water in, but won't pump in water on it's own) it seems like I could just replace the pump on it...but I may just go ahead and replace the whole thing just in case.

 

[The Garbone]

Or 27 had no head issues but our C30 we have had to replace the entire waste system and only kept the bowl. A new pump is under $100 and screws right on easy. Check you vent line for clogs. That affects a lot. Tanks can be spendy. If you need to replace the hoses get a nice heat gun to use on them when putting it together. They go one easier and are less likely to leak if they are soft and hot when the hose clamps are applied. Sounds like your intake thru hull may be closed or plugged.

We loved our well, left the two saddle tanks in place and used a shaker siphon to refill from jerry cans. Easy. You can also get away with trimming the top of the cutout to allow the engine to lift easier. We had a Mariner 9.9 long shaft. Always used the rudder to steer and not the OB. Watch reverse because the prop wash can throw the rudder hard over and you need to use all the tiller to keep control.

On those windows the butyl goes between the fiberglass and metal. On the metal glass junction I would tuck that back in and use a good quality caulk like Boat Life. In the home improvement store you can get a little rubber trowel kit ( about the size of a credit card) or use one of those fake credit cards to push the caulk up into the seem. It will clean up nice and a little caulk will go a really long way. Do not use 5200 or you will regret it. Catalina Direct sells a window fix kit but is spendy and time consuming.

 

[Dave Groshong]

Re: Looking for some input on a C27 I'm looking to purchase.

$3500 is a decent price, $2500 is excellent! We offer retro-fit windows, and KiwiGrip is an inexpensive way to refinish the non skid:

http://shop.catalinaowners.com/prod.php?50812

http://shop.catalinaowners.com/prod.php?2510

 

[timmeehle]

Re: Looking for some input on a C27 I'm looking to purchase.

I just bought a '76 Cat 27 for a bit under 3k (actually, it was free with 1 year slip rental which I would have needed anyway, so bonus!)

She's a bit of a project boat, but not as bad as we'd feared. We've almost got her ready to sail in just over a months time. I've found her to be a dream to work on, and I would recommend tinting the windows before you do any cabin work, there's some great tint film on amazon for about $20. Even if you're going to replace them, tinting will drop the cabin temp a good 10-15 degrees. Add in any sort of cooling (swamp cooler, portable a/c) and you'll be able to work all day!