Ultimate 27 Information, Review, Specs

The search results provide a good amount of information on the Ultimate 27.

Key findings from search results:

• Designer: Jim Antrim (explicitly mentioned multiple times).
• Builder: Ultimate Sailboats International.
• Production Start: 1996 (from). Production end year is null in, but articles imply it was part of Ultimate Sailboats' main production era in the mid-90s.
• Design Philosophy/Goals: Described as a "high-performance racer", "ocean-capable 27-footer" with "better stability than its competitors". Jim Antrim aimed for a "very clever and workable layout for this little rocket" while being "almost normal". It's a "stable, upright performer capable of handling a wide range of sailing conditions" and a "spirited coastal adventurer".
• Variations: The notes field in the "See ANTRIM 27" and many search results refer to it as "Antrim 27". This indicates it's also known by the designer's name, or that Ultimate Sailboats produced the Antrim 27 design. There is also a mention of Antrim 27C (for carbon).
• Sailing Performance and Handling: Described as a "high-performance racer", "ocean-capable", "spirited coastal adventurer", and a "stable, upright performer". It's a "little rocket". While the ratios were skipped due to size, the qualitative descriptions confirm its performance orientation.
• Accommodations and Layout: A "sit-down layout" where one "will have to scoot around on your rear". The head area can be closed for privacy. Jim Antrim "devised a very clever and workable layout for this little rocket". Given its performance focus and size (LOA < 30ft), extensive luxurious accommodations are unlikely, but the design is efficient for its purpose. No specific headroom mentioned in or search, except generally "sit-down".
• Owner's Perspectives: Limited direct "owner reviews" or "common problems" for the "Ultimate 27" specifically. The searches for "Ultimate 27 owner reviews" mostly yielded results about other boats (Catalina 27, Hunter 27) or general forums. There were no direct forums or extensive owner discussions specific to the Ultimate 27 found in the provided snippets. Therefore, I will likely omit the "Owner's Perspectives" section or keep it very brief if I can glean anything indirect from general descriptions. The notes in the "See ANTRIM 27" also directed to sailboatdata which had a forum link, but the link was to general sailboatdata forums, not specific to Antrim 27.

Refined Plan:

1. Introduction: Good to go.
2. History and Design: Good to go, can incorporate Jim Antrim's vision and Ultimate Sailboats' performance focus. Mention the "Antrim 27" nomenclature and the "27C" variation.
3. Sailing Performance and Handling: Good to go, using qualitative descriptions.
4. Accommodations and Layout: Good to go, will emphasize the clever but compact design.
5. Owner's Perspectives: I will omit this section as there isn't sufficient specific information to synthesize. General forum links or unrelated boat reviews are not strong enough.

Let's start drafting the article.