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Catalina 27

33K views 80 replies 38 participants last post by  norahs arc 
#1 ·
Why is there no forum for the C-27, the volume of these boats built should provide a lot of activity?
 
#33 ·
I've got a 1980 Cat 27. Thinwater, keep an eye on craigslist. I remember when I was boat shopping (about 2 months ago) somebody was selling sails off a cat 27... I just checked and didn't see any though. You might try craiglook.com (not affiliated) it provides a more powerful search.
 
#34 ·
Craigslook

NW --

Craigslook is like a search engine for Craigslist, and it lets you search nationwide instead of one market at a time. I've found a guy who has several C-27 mains for sale and we're just making sure that the slides and measurements match. BTW, I'm in North Carolina. Any other east coast Cat sailors?

John
 
#36 ·
I have been on Sailnet for awhile and rarely see any comments about C-27s. Usually have to go to the Catalina 27/270 Association to get any conversation. Glad to see some fellow C-27 owners here. I am already seeing some real experts here that will be sharing their experiences with us.

As for me, my girl is a 1976 Catalina 27 #2684. She is being completely refitted and rebuilt. It took forever for her to dry out. But I can finally give her the love and attention she has been craving for so long.

I live in NW Louisiana and she is the "Other Woman." :D
 
#38 ·
You Catalina 27 owners could do as I did for my Tartan 27. I started a Yahoo group called T27Owners. The Group allows you to upload photos, post files, links, databases etc. It is free to set up but someone has to do it and be the owner/moderator. I nominate Smackdaddy for the job!
You do need to set up a Yahoo id to use the Groups function.
T27Owners : Tartan 27 Owners Yahoo Group

Alternatively, there is a Catalina owners group over at SBO, CatalinaOwners.com - Home
which serves all the models.

Or, you can stay right here.
 
#50 ·
Catalina C27 Tall vs. Std. Rig Fin vs. Wing Keel

As I continue to do research trying to learn as much as I can about the C27. I have come up with a question or curiosity.

Quick background. We will be using it on Lewis and Clark Lake in South Dakota, our previous boat was a S2 7.3 24' had it for a year and I loved it. It is/was the only boat I have ever sailed so I can not make any comparison myself, but everyone I talked up there said it was a great boat that sailed better than most. I am currently boating on the 19' runabout ********.

We are about 2 years from pulling the trigger on one. I have decided on a year range of 1985 - 1989, based on price, market availability and just because...Inboard Diesel, Pedestal Steering.

What are the advantages/reasons for the 4 different configurations:
Catalina C27 Tall Rig Fin
Catalina C27 Tall Rig Wing Keel
Catalina C27 Std. Rig Fin Keel
Catalina C27 Std. Rig Wing Keel
Just looking for preferences, opinions and comparisons.

Oh yeah and when is the C27 going to get its own subforum?
 
#54 ·
What are the advantages/reasons for the 4 different configurations:
Catalina C27 Tall Rig Fin
Catalina C27 Tall Rig Wing Keel
Catalina C27 Std. Rig Fin Keel
Catalina C27 Std. Rig Wing Keel
Just looking for preferences, opinions and comparisons.
Oh yeah and when is the C27 going to get its own subforum?
For many years there was a Catalina 27 forum at trailersailor.com. I just tried to log onto it, but it wouldn't open. It might be defunct, or the server might just be down at the moment.

There is a Catalina 25 forum at catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/. The Catalina 25 is so similar to the 27 that most of the discussions on the Catalina 25 forum on repairs and maintenance, rigging, sail trim, racing, cruising and trailering would be equally applicable to Catalina 27s. The Catalina 25 forum has a large and very active membership of old-timers, who have been sailing, maintaining and rigging Catalina 25s for up to 30 years, as well as newbies, and collectively, they can provide valuable information about almost anything you want to know about C25s, and, on top of it, they're nice folks. You don't have to own a C25 to be a member, and it's your option whether to become a dues paying member, although most people appreciate the value of the forum, and pay the dues voluntarily. Included in your dues is a subscription to Catalina's "Mainsheet" Magazine, which has a tech section where owners share their knowledge on maintenance and repairs, and their ideas for modifications.

With regard to the Catalina 27 configurations, you only have to choose between sailplans and keels.
The wing keel is the shoal draft version, for those who want a boat that's easier to launch from a trailer, and who's sailing venue has a lot of skinny water, or who likes to gunk hole. The fin keel boat is faster than the wing keel, and can point higher, so, it's likely to be the choice of racers and of cruisers who either don't trailer, or who's cruising grounds don't have a lot of shallow areas.

As for the two sailplans, the tall rig carries more sail area and, in up to about 20 knot winds, it is faster than the standard rig. As the wind speed increases, the tall rig's extra sail area and weight aloft become a liability. Thus, to keep the tall rig on it's feet, it must be reefed sooner than the standard rig boat. The tall rig is great in light to moderate winds, and the standard rig is better in stronger winds.
 
#51 ·
I see the lake has hills on both sides; probably you want the tall rig as it will help you get the cleaner air a bit higher up. You can always reef down in a blow. Only downside is that I think it has a bowsprit which might cost you in moorage (or might not).

Don't know enough about wing vs. fin keel to provide an opinion here. I have a fin keel and find that the bow blows off something fierce when motoring at low speed. If the wing keel is longer, that might be less of a problem.
 
#52 ·
Thanks for the response.
Some have referred to the lake as the perfect sailing lake because it lies East to West and the prevailing summer winds are from the southwest which allows a beam reach up and down the lake all day long.

As far slip costs I don't know if the extra length will push me up or not. How much longer is a tall rig?

I was hoping to get more responses on this. Is this the wrong place to post this or is it just a dull topic?
 
#53 ·
There's a small C27 following on Sailnet, but the design doesn't get much discussion, probably because it's and older design no longer being updated, and fairly unremarkable in any particular area. Most people will say that it's a great starter boat because it is "pretty good" in a variety of ways---reasonably fast, reasonably seaworthy, reasonably good accommodations, etc---but doesn't excel in any way.

There's an IC27A mailing list on Yahoo groups on which there's pretty active discussions of the C27. Check IC27/270A Website for specs and a pretty good FTP site. If you have questions about rig/hull characteristics that aren't unique to the C27 (is a tall rig or a standard rig better for my sailing plans?) then Sailnet can help you... but this particular thread never seemed to get much attention.

Personally I think you will not be disappointed in the C27 regardless of configuration.

Best of luck.
 
#55 · (Edited)
Is there a performance difference between the wing and fin? ... doh nevermind gotta learn to read.

In my lake there are no issues with a 4' draft, my S2 was a 4' draft.

If I move/repost this thread to the boat review how bad will I get keel hauled? I'd really like to see some response and I've come to prefer the sailnet crew.

Has anybody out there sailed an S2 7.3 and a C27 that can give me a comparison?
 
#59 ·
I have found a couple different threads covering the subject of wing vs. fin but none that did a direct comparison on C27.

I have to admit I am a bit confused as to why the draft difference between the fin and wing is only 7 inches. It just does not seem like a number that justifies the extra tooling costs and performance hit. Now on the 270 at 18 inches, 280 at 17 inches, 309 at 23 inches and 320 at 23 inches, these seem to be substantial difference.

Well from the way it sounds I think the Tall Rig Fin Keel is the configuration I'd prefer; points, sails fast and useable on light and heavy wind days. But like you said noworries, in the end I will, go for the nicest one I can find for the best price in any configuration.

I think I might take a chance and repost this in the Boat Review and Purchase Forum...moderators?
 
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