I have the opportunity to purchase a 1982 27' sloop with a shoal draft keel. I sail in Narragansett,Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. It has a 1 cyl. yanmar deisel and wheel steering, she's a very clean boat and I'm looking for any imput from sailors on performance,speed, dependablility etc. I currently own an older 22' MacGregor that's very easy to sail and handle. I would appreciate any and all comments or advice on the advantages and disadvantages of this boat.
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Dependable, easy to sail and handle...
Performance?! SPEED?!!! (But then again, I have no experience with the shoal draft keel, I have a big old 3000 lbs. lead fin under mine...)
Performance?! SPEED?!!! (But then again, I have no experience with the shoal draft keel, I have a big old 3000 lbs. lead fin under mine...)
Condition, Condition, Condition
If in good shape you'll love it. I have a 1980 shoal draft. Lots of weather helm is the only problem. She isn't a "Blue Water" boat and you are near blue water. However, if used reasonably, she is hardy and reliable. Before I owned mine, she ran up and down the Intercoastal 5 or 6 times from Mass to Florida. Started in Lake Erie. Yanmar is a bit low in power when you are fighting a tide but is reliable. If the condition is good, buy it. Glad to discuss more.
If in good shape you'll love it. I have a 1980 shoal draft. Lots of weather helm is the only problem. She isn't a "Blue Water" boat and you are near blue water. However, if used reasonably, she is hardy and reliable. Before I owned mine, she ran up and down the Intercoastal 5 or 6 times from Mass to Florida. Started in Lake Erie. Yanmar is a bit low in power when you are fighting a tide but is reliable. If the condition is good, buy it. Glad to discuss more.
Buy her after a survey
The Cherubini designed Hunter 27 is a great little boat. I own a shoal draft 1979 Hunter 27. She has made annual trips from Long Island to Narragansett Bay, Cape Cod and the Islands. The Hunter 27 sails best in 10 to 20 knots of wind. But does suffer from weather helm. The shoal draft does effect the ability to point into the wind, but the difference is minor....This is not the boat to buy if you want an all out racer. It was designed as a coastal cruiser and sails well for that purpose. The Yanmar is a great little engine but I think 8hp in a 7000lbs displacement boat is a little small. Have the boat surveyed and buy her. Good Sailing.
The Cherubini designed Hunter 27 is a great little boat. I own a shoal draft 1979 Hunter 27. She has made annual trips from Long Island to Narragansett Bay, Cape Cod and the Islands. The Hunter 27 sails best in 10 to 20 knots of wind. But does suffer from weather helm. The shoal draft does effect the ability to point into the wind, but the difference is minor....This is not the boat to buy if you want an all out racer. It was designed as a coastal cruiser and sails well for that purpose. The Yanmar is a great little engine but I think 8hp in a 7000lbs displacement boat is a little small. Have the boat surveyed and buy her. Good Sailing.
She's a great little boat
I have a 82/83 27' hunter, that i've sailed down from N.Y. in 93 tothe keys and now here in St. Pete, I've lived on her ever since, Yes she's got weatherhelm, but add a 4 to 1 boom vang and some added reef points to the main and she'll do well, she is very easy to sail alone, I drape the main traveler sheet on the fwd shift knob, and do every thing from the cockpit, this boat has more potential than ANY boat near her size, I changed her from a sloop to a scutter, added a bridgedeck and soon the metomorphisus of my coastal cruiser to a blue water butterfly will be complete. good luck to you,
I have a 82/83 27' hunter, that i've sailed down from N.Y. in 93 tothe keys and now here in St. Pete, I've lived on her ever since, Yes she's got weatherhelm, but add a 4 to 1 boom vang and some added reef points to the main and she'll do well, she is very easy to sail alone, I drape the main traveler sheet on the fwd shift knob, and do every thing from the cockpit, this boat has more potential than ANY boat near her size, I changed her from a sloop to a scutter, added a bridgedeck and soon the metomorphisus of my coastal cruiser to a blue water butterfly will be complete. good luck to you,
Cherubini H-27
I traded my Columbia Contender for my 1978 H-27 in the spring and couldn't be happier. The PO had removed the one cylinder diesel (died) and replaced with a Johnson 9.9 outboard and I'm glad for after talking with lots of other H-27 owners, the yanmar was really not sufficient for the boat's weight. (If I were to replace the diesel, I'd opt for a 2GM.) As far as sailing characteristics, she is very stable, likes 10 - 20 knot breezes, anything over that it's time to reef as she's faster upright than with the rails under water. (That was my main reason to trade the much more tender, albeit FASTER Contender for an upright vessel.) Many folks have complained that the H-27 doesn't point all that well,but I've been very pleasantly surprised with our Ciao Bella in that respect. Coincidentally, my first sailboat was a Macgregor 222 pop-top that I had from 1972 to 1976. As I recall, it was VERY tender and suffered from less than top of the line fittings, (although she was also very fast), so I think the transition to a Cherubini design will not only give you the stability I mentioned, but also much more in the creature comfort area, particularly below decks. As to whether or not the Hunter is a blue water cruiser, I guess that depends on your sailing ability. Certainly, your present location indicates you've become accustomed to sailing outside of the sheltered waterways that I enjoy down here in Florida. Anyway, good luck! Neil Smith Ciao Bella 1978 H-27
I traded my Columbia Contender for my 1978 H-27 in the spring and couldn't be happier. The PO had removed the one cylinder diesel (died) and replaced with a Johnson 9.9 outboard and I'm glad for after talking with lots of other H-27 owners, the yanmar was really not sufficient for the boat's weight. (If I were to replace the diesel, I'd opt for a 2GM.) As far as sailing characteristics, she is very stable, likes 10 - 20 knot breezes, anything over that it's time to reef as she's faster upright than with the rails under water. (That was my main reason to trade the much more tender, albeit FASTER Contender for an upright vessel.) Many folks have complained that the H-27 doesn't point all that well,but I've been very pleasantly surprised with our Ciao Bella in that respect. Coincidentally, my first sailboat was a Macgregor 222 pop-top that I had from 1972 to 1976. As I recall, it was VERY tender and suffered from less than top of the line fittings, (although she was also very fast), so I think the transition to a Cherubini design will not only give you the stability I mentioned, but also much more in the creature comfort area, particularly below decks. As to whether or not the Hunter is a blue water cruiser, I guess that depends on your sailing ability. Certainly, your present location indicates you've become accustomed to sailing outside of the sheltered waterways that I enjoy down here in Florida. Anyway, good luck! Neil Smith Ciao Bella 1978 H-27
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