Cal 2-27 Buyer's Guide
The Cal 2-27 makes a sensible target for a shopper seeking a modest coastal cruiser-racer with Lapworth pedigree, built by Bangor Punta Marine from 1974 through 1980 with 656 produced before the Cal 3-27 took its place in 1983. She is a 26-foot 7-inch masthead sloop of solid fiberglass construction, lead-ballasted and fin-keeled, whose family-oriented layout and stable habits have kept her in circulation on the used market.
Layouts on the Used Market
The interior follows a V-berth forward, settees amidships, and an aft galley under the companionway, with pilot berths offered as options to sleep six though the boat suits two for cruising. The head sits within the forward cabin, which owners find roomy yet lacking in privacy. Storage is modest and the ice box is awkwardly placed, but the 6-foot 4-inch berths and 6-foot 2-inch headroom give her a feeling of space unusual for the length. Most examples carry an inboard Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, while a small number have the Farymann diesel, outboards, or later Volvo and Universal diesel swaps.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A spinnaker and autopilot are commonly fitted, useful for extending her light-air range and easing short-handed steering. Beyond those, buyer attention should fall on the ground tackle: many boats lack a proper bow roller, chocks, or anchor well and will need that system added. Engine access is tight on the standard layout, so any re-power or servicing upgrade should be judged on whether it improves reach to the mounts and filters. The Farymann diesel in particular was plagued by electrolysis and parts scarcity, a real caveat if one appears in a listing.
What to Inspect
Survey focus should center on the deck and closures. Inadequate backing plates for stanchions and deck hardware are a frequent owner complaint, and gelcoat crazing plus difficulty sealing chainplates at the deck are well reported. Hull-deck joint leaks occur, and owners note gate-type through-hull valves, thin drop boards at the companionway, and a loose rudder post. Engine accessibility was rated less than ideal by a number of owners, and the rare Farymann diesel suffered electrolysis and hard-to-source parts.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm chainplate and hull-deck sealing integrity, examine stanchion backing and rudder post play, verify ground tackle presence, and budget for an engine-access improvement if the Atomic 4 or ailing diesel remains. A clean, upgraded example rewards with stable family cruising at modest size.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cal 2-27. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $5,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $7,000 | +40.0% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $32,000 | +357.1% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $8,000 | -75.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $12,950 | +61.9% |
| May 26 | 1 | $22,000 | +69.9% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $4,950 | -77.5% |
Where they're listed
Cal 2-27 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 5.
Country view
5 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $12,950 | 5 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 27 | 26.83' | $ 7,900 | 77 | 20 |
| Moody 27 | 27.67' | $ 14,951 | 28 | 9 |
| Pearson 27 | 26.92' | $ 11,000 | 15 | 3 |
| Northshore 27 | 26.97' | $ 17,957 | 11 | 3 |
| Mirage Yachts 27 | 27.17' | $ 5,000 | 9 | 4 |
| Jensen 2-27You are here | — | $ 12,950 | 5 | 1 |