Catalina 27

The Catalina 27 is an American sailboat designed by Frank V. Butler and Robert Finch. The design became one of the most popular sailing keelboats of all time and was built from 1971 to 1991.[1][2][3][4]

Catalina 27
Development
DesignerFrank V. Butler and Robert Finch
LocationUnited States
Year1971
No. built6662
Builder(s)Catalina Yachts
Boat
Boat weight6,850 lb (3,107 kg)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA26.83 ft (8.18 m)
LWL21.75 ft (6.63 m)
Beam8.83 ft (2.69 m)
Hull draft4.00 ft (1.22 m)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typefin keel
Ballast2,700 lb (1,225 kg)
Rudder(s)internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig
GeneralMasthead sloop
I (foretriangle height)34.00 ft (10.36 m)
J (foretriangle base)11.25 ft (3.43 m)
P (mainsail luff)28.67 ft (8.74 m)
E (mainsail foot)10.50 ft (3.20 m)
Sails
Mainsail area150.52 sq ft (13.984 m2)
Jib/genoa area191.25 sq ft (17.768 m2)
Total sail area341.77 sq ft (31.751 m2)
Racing
PHRF204 (average)

Production

The boat was built by Catalina Yachts in the United States starting in 1971 and was also built under licence in Canada. In the first three years of production, 1500 boats were completed and sold. A total of 6662 examples were completed.[1]

The design was replaced in production by the Catalina 270 in 1991.[1]

Design

Catalina 27

The Catalina 27 is a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a masthead sloop rig, an internally-mounted spade-type rudder and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 6,850 lb (3,107 kg) and carries 2,700 lb (1,225 kg) of lead ballast.[1][2]

Designed for inland sailing and not ocean passages, the boat's hull is made from solid fiberglass, while the deck has a plywood core. The hull and other parts were built with molded headliners to streamline production. Early boats were all fitted with a tiller, but later ones had a wheel steering as optional.[5]

The boat has a draft of 4.00 ft (1.22 m) with the standard keel and 3.00 ft (0.91 m) with the optional shoal draft wing keel.[1]

The boat was originally fitted with an outboard motor well, but some later ones were equipped with inboard Universal Atomic 4 gasoline or Universal diesel engines.[1]

The boat has a PHRF racing average handicap of 204 with a high of 207 and low of 204. It has a hull speed of 6.25 kn (11.58 km/h).[2]

Operational history

Catalina 27

Catalina 27s have been sailed from the mainland US to Bermuda and the Caribbean, and have also carried out globe circumnavigations.[5]

In a 2002 review of the design as a used boat, Sail magazine writer John Kretschmer noted: "you don't buy a Catalina 27 for the craftsmanship, you buy it to have fun on the water ... One of the most surprising features of the 27 is how nicely it sails. The boat is fairly well balanced, and according to several owner reports, thrives upwind in moderate conditions. In heavy air the 27 is a bit tender and one owner suggests putting the first reef in the main at 12 knots." He concluded, "The Catalina 27 didn't become one of the most popular boats ever built without good reason. It offers good sailing, comfortable accommodations, one-design fleets and active owners groups."[5]

Variants

Catalina 27
Standard model with a draft of 4.00 ft (1.22 m).[1][2]
Catalina 27 TM
Tall mast model with a mast about 2.00 ft (0.61 m) higher and the mast moved aft, for use in locations that have lighter winds on average.[1][5][6]
Catalina 27 SD
Shallow draft model with a draft of 3.00 ft (0.91 m).[1][7]
Catalina 27 SD TM
Tall mast model with a mast about 2.00 ft (0.61 m) higher and the mast moved aft, plus shallow draft keel, with a draft of 3.00 ft (0.91 m).[1][8]

See also

Catalina 27
Catalina 27
Similar sailboats

References

  1. Browning, Randy (2016). "Catalina 27 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. InterVisionSoft LLC (2016). "Sailboat Specifications for Catalina 27". Sailing Joy. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. Browning, Randy (2016). "Frank V. Butler". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. Browning, Randy (2016). "Robert Finch". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. Kretschmer, John (November 2002). "Used Boat Notebook Catalina 27". Sailing Magazine. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  6. InterVisionSoft LLC (2016). "Sailboat Specifications for Catalina 27 TM". Sailing Joy. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  7. InterVisionSoft LLC (2016). "Sailboat Specifications for Catalina 27 SD". Sailing Joy. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. InterVisionSoft LLC (2016). "Sailboat Specifications for Catalina 27 SDTM". Sailing Joy. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

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