Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 27 by Tom Monroe

Year built	1986
Location of boat	Carlyle Lake, IL
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2004
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Given Carlyle Lake's size and depth, the C27 is a bit too much boat ... a C22 is probaly a better choice. But Different Drummer is a WONDERFUL boat, and I'm sure happy to own her.
Gear that's been added	Not yet ... budget issues. She needs:1. a full new compliment of sails; the current ones are the originals.2. an asym spinnaker3. a whisker pole4. a couple of snatch blocks5. repairs or replacement of the knotlog and windspeed/direction instruments
Structural or complex improvements	The original outboard motor mount assumes the older, lighter 2 strokes, but she has a Honda 4 stroke that weights approx 115 pounds. Mount needs to be replaced, which will probably require some structural improvement of the transom since there are already a bunch of holes (filled) in it. I'd know more if I could ever get Garelick or someone to send me the mounting plate hole configurations.I have to figure out some better way of dealing with the anchor. Right now, I have to unhank the headsail to deal with the thing at all.If you are reading this while thinking about buying one, GET A GOOD SURVEY!!! There are great C27's out there, and others which will require a small fortune to keep her from sinking at the dock, and everything in between. The good ones are great, the others are a great way to learn boat maintenance instead of sail handling.
The boat's best features	She is just a sweet handling, fast boat, with enough gizzmos and flexibility to adapt to conditions. I've already been out in some tough conditions, and I have great faith in her ability to bring me home.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	See motor mount, above.Gate on the mast for the sail slugs is poorly designed. The way it is positioned, I have to remove two slugs to reef, which means going to the mast with a screwdriver, negating the benefits of lines led aft.Cleats are WAY too small, and not structurally backuped up enough.
Sailing characterisitcs	Fast, easily handled, very responsive to tiller until about 15 degrees of heal. There's an aftermarket rudder that's supposed to improve that. In 10 knots or above, you can tack through about 100 degrees with toerail sheeting. I don't have a true C27 chute yet, and have been using an old C22 chute set like a big drifter for off-wind performance. It really helps. I think downwind handling of this boat requires some kind of spinnaker ... either a true or a crusing asym. She just doesn't go well in light winds without it.
Motoring characterisitcs	Mediocre.The 9.9 Honda powers her OK, and doesn't use much gas, which is fine for where we sail. If I was on bigger waters or had to go a ways to get to where I sailed, I'd choose an inboard deisel option. There are a lot of them out there.More a keel/hull issue than motor, nut when undocking, the bow goes downwind. Period. You can't back out and turn upwind or even partially into the wind. But she backs up real nice, so you just motor backwards to wherever you have some good turning room or you get to a different realtive wind direction you can use to your advantage. But ... you can't fight this characteristic with motor power!
Liveability	Haven't used it for more than daysiling and sleeping over at the marina. I think that with a couple of canvas tarps to rig over the companionway and forward hatch, and some better bug netting, a couple weeks at a time wouldn't be unrealistic. There would probably have to be some resupply options.And of course, there is the infamous Princess stove, which would be sure to cause significant marital stress if one had to use it often. If I were going to have to cook very often, it would have to go.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any
Other comments	Great decision ... glad I bought her, glad I did so with a very competent survey.

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