Hello- I'm looking at a 79 Catalina 27 Tall rig. A list of problems I noticed: -leakage through the deck- some evidence of water along the starboard salon bulkhead at the base of one of the shroud plates. -seems to need new sealing around the cabin windows -A crack along the leading edge of the rudder that definitely needs to be filled. -some signs of stress forward of the mast. Not too bad, but visible. -Atomic 4 seems to be in decent shape, but any advice about Gas vs. diesel is appreciated. Question is, are these pretty common issues, or am I getting into something too deep here? I know a surveyor could answer these questions, but I'm trying to expand my own knowledge before I get to that point. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you. Paul
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R
Ron
Used Boats
Paul, the biggest question is; How much of the work are you able or prepared to do? The leak around the chain plate is fairly common and simple to fix if it’s just the hold down bolts. The stress forward of the mast may be the cause of the leaky chain plate, hard to say, they may have been injured as a result of one another etc. A competent shipwright who knows and works with Fiberglas should look at both areas. The crack along the rudder is pretty easy to fix and show me a sailboat with aluminium windows that don’t leak! (well mine I guess cause I just redid them all). I have a diesel in my 30 and they are pretty hard to beat. But....if the price is right, an Atomic in good shape will take you anywhere you want to go and get you home again. There is this huge argument about diesel being safer???? I don’t know, there are tons of cruisers out there still using gas, and yes, you hear about a boat exploding because of gas fumes in the bilge every year. You never hear of gas engine aeroplanes exploding on start up do you. That’s because of the degree of maintenance most planes enjoy. What’s the difference between flying or putting out to sea, if the equipment hasn’t had the proper maintenance, you’re going to be in trouble. I had a 27 before I bought the 30 and enjoyed it immensely. Any boat almost 25 years old will need some TLC, but that’s the fun part. I don’t know if I’ve help you at all with all my ramblings but if you’re looking for advice on a 25 year old boat: Get a survey and buy cheep! There are lots of them out there. Good luck, have fun. Ron T. S/V Seascape
Paul, the biggest question is; How much of the work are you able or prepared to do? The leak around the chain plate is fairly common and simple to fix if it’s just the hold down bolts. The stress forward of the mast may be the cause of the leaky chain plate, hard to say, they may have been injured as a result of one another etc. A competent shipwright who knows and works with Fiberglas should look at both areas. The crack along the rudder is pretty easy to fix and show me a sailboat with aluminium windows that don’t leak! (well mine I guess cause I just redid them all). I have a diesel in my 30 and they are pretty hard to beat. But....if the price is right, an Atomic in good shape will take you anywhere you want to go and get you home again. There is this huge argument about diesel being safer???? I don’t know, there are tons of cruisers out there still using gas, and yes, you hear about a boat exploding because of gas fumes in the bilge every year. You never hear of gas engine aeroplanes exploding on start up do you. That’s because of the degree of maintenance most planes enjoy. What’s the difference between flying or putting out to sea, if the equipment hasn’t had the proper maintenance, you’re going to be in trouble. I had a 27 before I bought the 30 and enjoyed it immensely. Any boat almost 25 years old will need some TLC, but that’s the fun part. I don’t know if I’ve help you at all with all my ramblings but if you’re looking for advice on a 25 year old boat: Get a survey and buy cheep! There are lots of them out there. Good luck, have fun. Ron T. S/V Seascape
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Jim Huhta, Sr.
Just got a Catalina 27 1979
Paul.... I bought a 27' 1979'er a year ago. I am very happy with it, but with any older boat there's alot maintenance to do. Mine has an Atomic gas 4, and it runs great. It in my opinion is a solid performer, and quite reliable. Had trouble with the chainplates rotting out the bulkheads and we had to replace the bulkheads ( done by a boatyard and discovered during the Survey)(by all means, get a Survey)and you won't be able to get insurance without the survey. A good place to get parts&advice is from Moyer Marine in Pa. moyermarine.com will get you there. I have a +20 degree temperature high while running the engine and bought a kit from Moyer to bypass some raw water into the head and block direct: cost about $22 and I'll see how it works in a month or so. We just packed all the stanchions and other thru-deck items and have no leaks, no even around the windows. Give the engine a compression test with a standard engine test gauge. Each cylinder should produce 100psi: each of mine produced 95psi and that was good enough for me. When I bought the boat the former owner saved all the engine and boat operating instructions and pamphlets and this was a GREAT tool in learning the boat and engine. I believe you can get them from Catalina if you buy the boat, or I could Xerox mine for you if you wish. Good luck and I hope this helps. Jim Huhta
Paul.... I bought a 27' 1979'er a year ago. I am very happy with it, but with any older boat there's alot maintenance to do. Mine has an Atomic gas 4, and it runs great. It in my opinion is a solid performer, and quite reliable. Had trouble with the chainplates rotting out the bulkheads and we had to replace the bulkheads ( done by a boatyard and discovered during the Survey)(by all means, get a Survey)and you won't be able to get insurance without the survey. A good place to get parts&advice is from Moyer Marine in Pa. moyermarine.com will get you there. I have a +20 degree temperature high while running the engine and bought a kit from Moyer to bypass some raw water into the head and block direct: cost about $22 and I'll see how it works in a month or so. We just packed all the stanchions and other thru-deck items and have no leaks, no even around the windows. Give the engine a compression test with a standard engine test gauge. Each cylinder should produce 100psi: each of mine produced 95psi and that was good enough for me. When I bought the boat the former owner saved all the engine and boat operating instructions and pamphlets and this was a GREAT tool in learning the boat and engine. I believe you can get them from Catalina if you buy the boat, or I could Xerox mine for you if you wish. Good luck and I hope this helps. Jim Huhta
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Paul K
Thank You
Thanks for the thorough responses. I'm going to look again this weekend and will then decide whether to go with this boat or another I'm looking at. Of course, any decision would be contingent upon a survey. I'll post when I make a move. Thanks again, very helpful. -Paul
Thanks for the thorough responses. I'm going to look again this weekend and will then decide whether to go with this boat or another I'm looking at. Of course, any decision would be contingent upon a survey. I'll post when I make a move. Thanks again, very helpful. -Paul
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Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO
Cat 27 Problems
There are several problems that may occur on a Cat 27. The leaks/rot on the bulkhead chain plates will probably require them to be replaced. This isn't a terribly big job and you can do it your self. There are some fittings you should check or replace. The original spreader fittings on the mast were cast aluminum and prone to unexpected catastrophic failure with accompanying mast failure. They should be replaced with the SS fitting from Catalina Direct. The lower chain plates should be 1/2". Older models had 3/8" threads. Even better is the U bolt chain plates sold also by Catalina Direct. Easy to install. The third problem is the thru hulls. The originals were "volcanoes" made by glassing bronze pipe stubs into the hull and screwing on ordinary gate valves. They should be replaced by proper bronze or (shudder) plastic thru hulls and sea cocks. This is a one weekend job but the hardware will run a couple of hundred bucks. The cockpit drains are the same but they are so far back in the engine compartment that I can't figure out how to get at them to fix them (hire a midget I guess). To improve engine life I have added freshwater cooling and an oil filter to my A4. Cost of the kits is reasonable but the cost in cuts, bruises and bad language is pretty high. If you add the oil filter don't forget to ground the oil pressure sending unit or the gage won't work (scared myself pretty good with that one, the engine ran fine but the gage showed no oil pressure). To do the work on the mast it will have to come down. This is a good time to check/renew the wiring in the mast including the VHF cable and, in my case, the antenna. I also switched to all rope halyards and changed the sheaves in the mast head while I had the stick down. To do the thru hulls and sea cocks the boat will have to come out of the water. I can send you my instruction sheet for the job if you want it.
There are several problems that may occur on a Cat 27. The leaks/rot on the bulkhead chain plates will probably require them to be replaced. This isn't a terribly big job and you can do it your self. There are some fittings you should check or replace. The original spreader fittings on the mast were cast aluminum and prone to unexpected catastrophic failure with accompanying mast failure. They should be replaced with the SS fitting from Catalina Direct. The lower chain plates should be 1/2". Older models had 3/8" threads. Even better is the U bolt chain plates sold also by Catalina Direct. Easy to install. The third problem is the thru hulls. The originals were "volcanoes" made by glassing bronze pipe stubs into the hull and screwing on ordinary gate valves. They should be replaced by proper bronze or (shudder) plastic thru hulls and sea cocks. This is a one weekend job but the hardware will run a couple of hundred bucks. The cockpit drains are the same but they are so far back in the engine compartment that I can't figure out how to get at them to fix them (hire a midget I guess). To improve engine life I have added freshwater cooling and an oil filter to my A4. Cost of the kits is reasonable but the cost in cuts, bruises and bad language is pretty high. If you add the oil filter don't forget to ground the oil pressure sending unit or the gage won't work (scared myself pretty good with that one, the engine ran fine but the gage showed no oil pressure). To do the work on the mast it will have to come down. This is a good time to check/renew the wiring in the mast including the VHF cable and, in my case, the antenna. I also switched to all rope halyards and changed the sheaves in the mast head while I had the stick down. To do the thru hulls and sea cocks the boat will have to come out of the water. I can send you my instruction sheet for the job if you want it.
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