Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 27 by Chris Ahart

Year built	1976
Location of boat	Western Lake Erie
The boat is sailed on	The Great 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	2006
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, I would have bought it instead of my last boat, a Venture 25 that I paid the same for as the C27. This is way more boat in all ways.
Gear that's been added	Updated the VHF. Replaced all running rigging. Added a fishfinder. Added new lights. I will be re-wiring the boat this winter along with new plumbing hoses, adding a siphon valve where none existed. Replaced gate valves with ball valves.
Structural or complex improvements	Added backing plates where none existed before and re-bedded components. Added aluminum treadplates atop deck with stanchions through-bolted through them for added strength and will spend this winter building "bridges" to go over the lip under them for added strength. Strengthened bulkheads with addition of 3/8" marine ply birch which also benefits in a lighter look. Added them to rear cabin wall's outboard of companionway to mount other gear and run wiring behind.Plan to replace most hardware with more robust gear for extended cruising.
The boat's best features	The ease of sailing, cockpit storage is great, very roomy in cabin for 27', forgiving. Engine access is good, both sides and front.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Mast gate is poorly located, could be lower just above boom. Mine didnt come with gate guards and having a dickens of a time fabricating them. Will probably break done and buy them from cat. direct this winter. Side decks could be wider, or at least shrouds placed in/outboard to facilitate moving forward. I am running everything (lines, etc) aft so I dont have to go forward often, and the furler really helps. Ventilation isnt good, def. an owner upgrade here.
Sailing characterisitcs	I have really enjoyed her. Hull speed is great in light air, 5 knot winds I'm running 5+. I feel much more secure in her then my last trailer-sailor.
Motoring characterisitcs	The A4 pushes her quite good, in fact in forward she really moves, no creeper speed here so I have to shift to neutral and coast the last 100 yds to my slip. Reverse is good, but when I drag mud she walks to port. PO installed a folding 2-blade prop.
Liveability	Fine for this tent camper guy. Long term would be pushing it, def not for more then 1 though.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	Havent yet.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Bought from Torresen's in Muskegon where I bought my last boat. THE great sailboat everything on lake Michigan. Wish they were on my side of the state.
Other comments	I'm very pleased with her so far. This is my first summer with her and it is a huge improvement over my last boat in every way.

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