Developed by the C&C design team led by Rob Ball and Neil Gilbert, the Mk V is a performance-oriented cruiser-racer measuring 26 feet 6 inches. Compared with its forerunners, it is slightly shorter but wider and nearly 1,000 pounds lighter. Displacement is 4,420 pounds, with a 23-foot waterline. More than 300 were built before production ended in 1987.
Design and Construction
The Mk V marked a deliberate break from earlier C&C 27s in both hull shape and construction. Its solid, hand-laid fiberglass hull has flat bilges, a gently reversed transom, relatively high freeboard, and a broad 9-foot 3-inch beam. That beam gives the cabin a roomier feel than the boat’s length might suggest.
The deck is balsa-cored fiberglass, reinforced with plywood beneath high-stress fittings such as winches. The hull-to-deck joint uses an outward-turned flange bolted through an anodized aluminum toerail, a construction method found across C&C’s production in the 1970s and 1980s.
Descriptions of the Mk V’s rail and hull-to-deck finish differ. One describes a slotted black anodized aluminum rail, useful for keeping dropped tools aboard and providing plenty of attachment points for turning blocks. Another says the boat dispenses with the characteristic slotted C&C toerail of older models, instead using an out-turned joint with a vinyl rubrail in replaceable sections.
Other deck hardware includes sturdy polycarbonate stanchion bases, synthetic cleats, and a molded bow casting with an integrated anchor roller.
Rig, Keel, and Handling
A transom-mounted deep spade rudder replaced the rudder post that passed through the cockpit floor on earlier models. This frees space below and contributes to a light and responsive helm.
The exceptionally tall masthead rig rises about 34 feet above the deck from a cast aluminum plate. Its tall foretriangle and high-aspect-ratio mainsail provide 342 square feet of sail area. Testers found that the boat responded quickly and accelerated well, as might be expected from the tall rig and generous sail area. Even in light air, however, she proved moderately tender and heeled more as the breeze built.
The deck plan is arranged for easy handling by two people. Halyards lead aft to the cockpit, and the mainsheet traveler sits just aft of the companionway. A special mast section incorporates an internal spinnaker-car track. The deck-stepped spar also uses a tabernacle to make raising and lowering easier.
Standard rigging includes a split backstay and midstay. Racing options included tension tackle and a grooved forestay foil.
The standard keel is a modern, vertical-profile lead fin drawing 4 feet 10 inches. C&C also offered a factory shoal-draft keel drawing 3 feet 6 inches and carrying 360 additional pounds of ballast.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit seats are about 6 feet 2 inches long and provide room for up to three adults. Tiller steering was standard, with a wheel available as an option.
Below, the Mk V makes good use of its beam. Headroom is 5 feet 10 inches, and a cream fiberglass liner is warmed by teak trim. Two ample windows on each side, together with a forward hatch, keep the cabin bright.
The V-berth is a generous 6 feet 4 inches long, with a shelf forward and stowage beneath. A curtain separates it from the head. The port settee converts into a double berth, while a spacious quarterberth aft includes two dry bins. Altogether, the layout provides five berths and useful stowage.
The hanging locker is outboard, behind the head to port. Lockers and drawers throughout the cabin have positive latches.
To starboard, the galley has the traditional C&C finish. It includes a molded, one-piece counter with rounded edges, a good stainless alcohol stove, a generous insulated icebox, and, on the Mk V, a countertop two-burner propane range. Canadian Boating’s testers regretted that the sink was too shallow for going to sea.
Equipment and Systems
Unlike the original C&C 27s, which offered an outboard option, the Mk V came with a diesel engine beneath the cockpit sole, behind the companionway steps. Access is available by removing the steps or through the starboard cockpit locker.
A 12-gallon aluminum fuel tank sits behind the engine and has a deck filler. One battery is stowed aft of the engine. The breaker panel, located below the companionway, includes spare connections for an optional second battery.
All plumbing uses seacocks and double hose clamps. The undersides of important deck fittings can be reached through sections of headliner secured with Velcro, which should make inspection and service more straightforward.
Known Issues
The only documented shortcoming from period testing is the shallow galley sink, which testers judged unsuitable for use at sea.
The Verdict
The C&C 27 Mk V is a thoughtfully modernized small cruiser-racer. It gives up a little length compared with its predecessors but gains beam, loses nearly 1,000 pounds, and offers a much more manageable rig and deck plan.
Its tall masthead sail plan and low displacement produce lively performance, though the boat is moderately tender even in light air. Below, the broad beam is used cleverly, providing five berths, good stowage, and a comfortably finished cabin. 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 an internal spinnaker track and an easy-raising tabernacle
- Roomy, well-finished interior with five berths and good stowage
- Outward-turned hull-to-deck joint with a replaceable rubrail and accessible deck fittings
Cons
- Moderately tender in light air
- Galley sink is too shallow for offshore use
- Headroom of less than 6 feet will limit taller sailors
