Design and Construction
The Mk V reads as a deliberate break from earlier C&C 27s in both hull shaping and joinery. Its solid hand-laid fiberglass hull carries flat bilges and a gently reversed transom, with a relatively high freeboard and a wide 9-foot 3-inch beam that gives the cabin a roomier feel than the length suggests. The deck is balsa-cored fiberglass reinforced with plywood under high-stress points such as winches, and the hull-to-deck joint is an outward-turned flange bolted through an anodized aluminum toerail — a method C&C used across its 1970s and 1980s production. On the Mk V that rail is slotted black anodized aluminum, useful for keeping dropped tools aboard and offering endless turning-block fastening points. The boat does without the characteristic C&C slotted toe rail of older models, using instead an out-turned joint with a vinyl rubrail in replaceable sections, while sturdy polycarbonate stanchion bases and synthetic deck cleats, plus a molded bow casting with an integrated anchor roller, round out the deck hardware.
Rig and Handling
A transom-mounted deep spade rudder replaced the rudder post through the cockpit floor of earlier models, freeing space below and contributing to a light and responsive helm. The exceptionally tall masthead rig rises about 34 feet above deck on a cast aluminum plate, with a tall foretriangle and high-aspect-ratio main delivering 342 square feet of sail. Testers found the boat quick to respond and to accelerate well, as expected from the tall rig and large area, though even in light air she proved moderately tender and heeled as the breeze built. The deck layout is arranged for easy handling by two, with halyards led aft to the cockpit and the mainsheet traveler just aft of the companionway. A special mast section carries an internal spinnaker car track, and the deck-stepped spar uses a tabernacle for easy raising and lowering; standard rigging includes a split backstay and midstay, with racer options for tension tackle and a grooved forestay foil. A factory shoal-draft keel at 3 feet 6 inches, with 360 extra pounds of ballast, was offered against the standard 4-foot 10-inch lead fin with its modern vertical profile.
Accommodations
Below, the Mk V makes the most of its beam with five-foot ten-inch headroom and a cream fiberglass liner warmed by teak. Two ample windows per side and a forward hatch keep the cabin light, and the V-berth runs a generous six feet four inches with a forward shelf and under-berth stowage, curtained from the head. The port settee converts to a double, and a spacious quarterberth aft holds two dry bins. To starboard, the galley shows traditional C&C finish: a molded one-piece counter with rounded edges, a good stainless alcohol stove, a generous insulated icebox, and a countertop two-burner propane range on the Mk V, though Canadian Boating’s testers regretted that the sink is too shallow for going to sea. All lockers and drawers have positive latches, and the hanging locker sits outboard behind the head to port. Cockpit seats span about six feet two inches, roomy for up to three adults, with tiller steering standard and wheel optional.
Equipment and Systems
The Mk V came with a diesel installed under the cockpit sole behind the companionway steps, reached by removing the steps or through the starboard cockpit locker — unlike the outboard option on original 27s. A 12-gallon aluminum fuel tank sits behind the engine with a deck filler, and a single battery is stowed aft of the engine, with the breaker panel below the companionway offering spare connections for an optional second. Seacocks and double hose clamps serve all plumbing, and the underside of key deck fittings is reachable through Velcro-fastened headliner sections.
Known Issues
The only documented shortcoming from period testing is the shallow galley sink, judged unsuitable for sea conditions.
The Verdict
The C&C 27 Mk V is a thoughtfully modernized small cruiser-racer that trades a little length for beam, lightness, and a far more manageable rig and deck plan than its predecessors. Its tall masthead sail plan and low displacement make for lively performance, while the interior uses its volume with real cleverness. The shallow sink is a minor blemish on an otherwise well-executed boat.
Pros
- Light, quick, and responsive helm with strong acceleration
- Tall masthead rig with internal spinnaker track and easy-raising tabernacle
- Roomy, well-finished interior with five berths and good stowage
- Outward-turned hull-deck joint with replaceable rubrail and accessible deck fittings
Cons
- Moderately tender in light air
- Galley sink too shallow for offshore use
- Headroom under six feet limits taller sailors
