BoatsHunter Marine 27

Hunter Marine 27

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1974–1984

A John Cherubini-designed masthead sloop built for a decade, featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and shoal-draft options

Designed by John E. Cherubini.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Hunter Marine 27, on the water

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

Footage from Practical Sailor

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 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.94
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 293
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.3
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Hunter Marine 27, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Hunter Marine 27 is a masthead sloop designed by John E. Cherubini and built by Hunter Marine from 1974 to 1984.2:22 It features a fin keel with a rudder on a skeg, measures 8.3 meters LOA, has a 2.8-meter beam, a 1.3-meter draft, and displaces 3175 kg. Hunter Marine offered the 27 with a shoal draft/wing keel option, and later models were available with a Yanmar diesel engine. Hunter Marine, founded in 1973, became the second-largest American sailboat manufacturer, known for applying high-volume production to cruising boats.1:27 The company later adopted the B&R rig and integrated features like stainless steel cockpit arches to enhance interior volume and ease of handling.5:02 Despite awards, the brand faced criticism for structural hardware issues, such as chain plate corrosion, and sluggish performance in heavy seas.7:20

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.3
Displacement / length
293.5
Comfort ratio
23.7
Capsize screening
1.94
Hull speed
6.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
727
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1974–1984
Units built
2000
Designer
John E. Cherubini
Builder
Hunter Marine

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.

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
Ep# 27 Interview with Chris2:02from Sailing Into Oblivion
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
Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
The ONE Question That Changes Everything About Buying a Boat7:09from Be The Captain
Puma 268.00 mSame hull family0.3 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
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
Boat Tour of a Free Sailboat before Refurbishment - Prequel - DIY Free Sailboat Refitfrom Sailing Puffin
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
Bahamas for $5000? The Watkins 27 foot Sailboat0:47from Practical Sailor

The family

Boats like this

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

Hunter Marine 27-2A 27-foot fractional sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal cruisingHunter Marine 27-3A Glenn Henderson design featuring a bulb-tipped fin keel and a B&R rig for versatile coastal cruisingHunter Marine 25The first sailboat built by Hunter Marine, this masthead sloop features a skeg-mounted rudder for stable cruisingHunter Marine 25.5A masthead sloop with a fin keel and transom-hung rudder, built for coastal cruising between 1984 and 1987Hunter Marine 270A fractional sloop with a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable, easy-handling coastal cruisingHunter Marine 30A John Cherubini-designed masthead sloop offered in multiple keel configurations and as an unfinished kit version

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The fleet has more to say

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