Design and Construction
The Cal 2-27 has a solid-fiberglass hull, with internal lead ballast dropped into an envelope keel. The deck was cored with plywood sections set in resin and glass, then held down with sandbags until cured. The hull-to-deck joint was sealed with putty and glassed over inside. Bulkheads were bonded to both the hull and deck, while a half pan formed the cabin sole and hull stiffeners.
A small skeg provides a bearing for the rudder. Below, the overhead was finished with a soft liner rather than a molded fiberglass unit. Overall, the integrity of the hull and deck structures appears to be above average.
Her numbers describe a moderately heavy coastal cruiser. Displacement is 6,700 pounds on a 22-foot 8-inch waterline, with 3,100 pounds of lead ballast and a ballast-displacement ratio of 46.27. The displacement-length ratio is about 278. Beam is 9 feet 3 inches, and draft is 4 feet 3 inches. The fin-keel, spade-rudder hull was intended for cheerful handling rather than offshore passage work.
Rig, Ratings, and Handling
The Cal 2-27 carries a masthead sloop rig with single spreaders and single lower shrouds. The untapered mast, supplied by SuperSpar or Kenyon, is stepped on deck over a compression post that rests on a transverse fiberglass molding.
Total sail area is about 374 square feet, divided between a 158-square-foot mainsail and a 216-square-foot foretriangle. The reported sail-area-displacement ratio of 16.7 puts her firmly in the cruiser-racer range.
The builder claimed that the boat was designed to race competitively under MORC and CCA rules, rating about 21.6 and 24.1 respectively. With larger headsails and a penalty pole, she would rate half ton under IOR. Her PHRF rating is about 200.
Owners report that the Cal 2-27 is quite stable. She heels to 20 degrees and then settles in, standing up well in windy conditions without excessive heel. However, weather helm can become a problem at higher wind speeds.
Accommodations
The interior is roomy for a boat of this length. There’s a V-berth forward, settees amidships, and an athwartship galley aft beneath the companionway and bridge deck. Owners describe the forward cabin as a mini-stateroom that feels far less claustrophobic than those on comparable boats. All berths are a generous 6 feet 4 inches long, and optional pilot berths increased sleeping capacity to six. Headroom is 6 feet 2 inches throughout.
There are some compromises. The head forms part of the forward cabin, prompting complaints about privacy. Companionway traffic must cross the athwartship galley, and storage is somewhat limited. Inspecting the ice box requires kneeling on the port settee with your head beneath the overhead.
For cruising, the Cal 2-27 is best suited to two people. The cockpit is most comfortable for two or three when the boat is tiller-steered. Even with those limitations, she remains more than adequate for weekends and short cruises.
Engines and Later Changes
Many boats were fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. A single-cylinder 12-hp Farymann diesel was a rarely chosen option, while some boats received outboards. Owners have also reported Volvo MB10A and 11-hp Universal diesels.
The few Farymann diesel options suffered from electrolysis and poor parts availability, while diesel owners felt underpowered. Engine access also draws criticism for being less than ideal.
Over the years, interiors were upgraded with more teak veneer, opening ports, and better equipment. The Crown 28, developed in Canada by Calgan Marine, carried the lineage forward.
Known Issues
Owners report several recurring shortcomings. Inadequate backing plates for stanchions and deck hardware are common, along with gelcoat crazing and difficulty sealing the chainplates where they pass through the deck. Hull-to-deck joint leaks also appear.
Other reported problems include through-hull gate valves, flimsy companionway drop boards, and a loose rudder post. Many boats also lack a proper ground-tackle system, including a bow roller, chocks, and an anchor well.
The Verdict
The Cal 2-27 is a thoughtfully evolved Lapworth cruiser-racer. Her beamy hull and stable manners made her a practical family coastal boat. Above-average structural integrity is a strong point, but any prospective boat still calls for a careful survey, particularly around the deck hardware, chainplates, and hull-to-deck joint.
Pros
- Stable; settles at 20 degrees of heel and handles wind well
- Roomy forward cabin and 6-foot 4-inch berths for her size
- Above-average hull and deck structural integrity
Cons
- Inadequate stanchion backing plates and troublesome chainplate sealing
- Reported hull-to-deck joint leaks and loose rudder posts
- Limited storage
- Little privacy around the head in the forward cabin
