BoatsHughes-Columbia 27

Hughes-Columbia 27

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1978–1980

A short-run masthead sloop with a spade rudder, distinct from the earlier Howard Hughes-designed 27

Designed by Alan Payne, built by Hughes Boat Works Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

1.93 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.93
LightHeavy

340 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 340
EasygoingPowered-up

14.7 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.7
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 42%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Draws less than ~77% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1924 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.7
Displacement / length
339.6
Comfort ratio
25.1
Capsize screening
1.93
Hull speed
6.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
708
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1978–1980
Designer
Alan Payne
Builder
Hughes Boat Works Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Ericson Yachts 278.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with over 1,200 built, offering a stiff, stable platform for coastal cruising
Catalina Yachts 278.18 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with 6,662 hulls produced over two decades, serving as a staple of coastal cruising since 1971
Cascade Yachts 278.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by Robert A. Smith for balanced coastal cruising
Watkins Yachts 278.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offered in rare pilot house and keel-centerboard configurations
Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
Puma 268.00 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA masthead sloop derived from an IOR Half Ton prototype, designed by Holman and Pye for competitive performance

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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