BoatsCatalina Yachts 27

Catalina Yachts 27

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1971–1991

A masthead sloop with 6,662 hulls produced over two decades, serving as a staple of coastal cruising since 1971

Designed by Frank W. Butler & Robert Finch.

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

See her sail

The Catalina Yachts 27, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Be The Captain

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

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

Capsize screening 1.86
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 297
EasygoingPowered-up

15.3 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.3
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

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 1902 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Catalina Yachts 27, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Catalina Yachts 27 is a masthead sloop designed by Frank W. Butler and Robert Finch, built by Catalina Yachts from 1971 to 1991, with 6,662 hulls produced. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder, measures 8.2 meters LOA, has a 2.7-meter beam, a 1.2-meter draft, and displaces 3107 kg. The model was offered with an outboard well or optional inboard Atomic 4 or Universal Diesel engines, and a wing keel or tall rig variant was available. James Evenson, an experienced offshore sailor, lived aboard a Catalina 27 as part of his 18 years of full-time liveaboard experience.33:13 Aboard *keeldragger*, the crew found the Catalina 27's uncluttered foredeck and good visibility advantageous for maneuvering in crowded holiday waterways, despite some deck clutter.1:23 One novice sailor purchased a Catalina 27 for $2,500 and motored it from Baltimore to Miami via the Intracoastal Waterway.2:07 The Catalina 27 is considered a suitable candidate for the 6,000-mile Great Loop for sailors on a $20,000 budget, prioritizing a reliable inboard diesel and structural integrity.10:18

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 10 times across 6 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Catalina Yachts 27 on video

Sneak Preview "Be The Captain"James Evenson details offshore sailing skills, emergency preparedness, and captaincy in his book, Be The Captain.Be The CaptainPatrick Childress - A FINAL FAREWELL - (Sailing Brick House #68)Patrick Childress, solo circumnavigator on a Catalina 27, is remembered by family and fellow sailors after his death from COVID-19.Sailing Brick House, Osprey, RVing and Tiny Home! Ep# 27 Interview with ChrisA novice sailor recounts a self-taught transit from Maryland to Florida aboard a Catalina 27.Sailing Into OblivionSUMMER 2026 - BOAT AUCTION Announcement (NEW)Impounded vessels at Alamitos Bay Marina and Shoreline Marina are auctioned following unpaid slip fees and liens.Sailing Solé🔴 2026 SNEAK PEEK! BOAT AUCTION Announcement! BUY CHEAP BOATSThe Long Beach boat auction takes place January 24, 2026, featuring various impounded sailboats and powerboats.Sailing Solé🔴 SNEAK PEEK! - 2025 BOAT AUCTION Announcement! - CHEAP BOATS EP77The 2025 Long Beach boat auction takes place June 14 at Alamitos Bay Marina starting at 9 a.m.Sailing SoléSailing on A Catalina 27 (July 4, 2022) - s/v Jean GreyJean Grey, a Catalina 27, navigates a crowded July 4 harbor with fender retrieval and tight reverse maneuvers.keeldraggerCan You Do the Great Loop for $20,000A $20,000 budget for the Great Loop prioritizes a reliable inboard diesel engine and sound structural condition.Practical SailorBahamas for $5000? The Watkins 27 foot SailboatA Watkins 27 reached the Bahamas for roughly $5,000 all-in, bought for as little as $3,500.Practical Sailor

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Catalina Yachts 27 may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen sold
1channel weighed buying one
US$14,750Median asking
US$2,500–US$27,000Asking range

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
39.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.3
Displacement / length
297.2
Comfort ratio
25.0
Capsize screening
1.86
Hull speed
6.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
686
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1971–1991
Units built
6662
Designer
Frank W. Butler, Robert Finch
Builder
Catalina Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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.

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
Salt & Tar: Ep.235- Buddy Boating to the Islands (We have Friends!)8:18from Salt & Tar
Mirage Yachts 2758.38 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop built for coastal cruising with a stable fin keel and spade rudder
Preparing to go from Great Lakes to Blue Water Sailors. Canada to Europe, via Greenland.2:23from Sailing Northern Brees
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
💥+250 sailors together!! ⛵🎉 TESTIMONIALS - Sailors' Meetup7:43from Allende los Mares · Vuelta Vertical
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
My Honest Advice for New Sailors (It’s Not What You Think)8:29from Be The Captain
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
🛑 © 2025 BOAT AUCTION! BUY CHEAP SAILBOATS & POWER BOATS!1:50from Sailing Solé
Colvic Ltd. Sailor 268.21 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA twin-keeled masthead sloop with hulls moulded by Colvic and finished by various yards, including Atlanta Marine
Will this End in Disaster ? - Episode 26 - Free Sailboat Refitfrom Sailing Puffin

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Catalina Yachts 270A 1992-2007 masthead sloop featuring a Luxury Edition trim and an optional wing keel for shoal-water cruisingCatalina Yachts 25A 7.6-metre fin-keel sloop produced for fifteen years, offering a stable, high-volume platform for coastal cruisingCatalina Yachts 30With over 6,000 hulls produced, this versatile masthead sloop remains one of the most successful production yachts ever builtCatalina Yachts 22A prolific masthead sloop with 15,000 built, offering a versatile swing-keel design for trailerable coastal cruisingCatalina Yachts 28A 1991 masthead sloop featuring a 38% ballast ratio and multiple configurations including wing keel and tall rig optionsCatalina Yachts 34A high-volume production cruiser with 1,438 hulls built, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for coastal performance

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Catalina Yachts 27, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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