Cape Dory 27 Buyer's Guide
The Cape Dory 27 is a Carl Alberg-designed full-keel cruiser that Cape Dory Yachts produced from 1976 to 1984, with 277 built. On the used market she presents as a straightforward, solidly constructed 27-footer: 7,500 pounds displacement, 3,000 pounds lead ballast, 8 feet 6 inches of beam, and 4 feet draft. Her appeal to a buyer is less about glitz and more about a simple, safe seaboat with a large cockpit and unpretentious systems.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most examples follow the standard Alberg interior: a large V-berth forward, two single bunks amidships with the port side serving as a settee, and no quarter berth. That missing quarter berth is a buying point rather than a defect, because it leaves a large storage cavity under the cockpit for sails, fenders, and gear anchor. Buyers should expect the boat to sleep three comfortably for overnight trips, with the fourth bunk better used for stowing belongings. The cockpit itself is generous for the length, suited to daysailing with friends.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The boat’s electrical scheme is a basic 12-volt layout with house and starting batteries and a simple breaker board for lights, running lights, anchor light, and VHF. A frequent owner upgrade on the brokerage circuit is a dodger to make the large cockpit usable in poor weather. A chartplotter is sometimes seen as an owner-added navigation aid, but the original specification was intentionally minimal. The most common engine remains the single-cylinder Yanmar YSM8 diesel, rated 8 horsepower with an 8-gallon tank for roughly 100 miles of motoring at a third gallon per hour. Stock Barlow size 16 non-tailing winches are typical; a buyer intending to sail short-handed should budget for self-tailing replacements.
What to Inspect
The hull is solid fiberglass hand-layup and the lead ballast is encapsulated in the keel. Verify the condition of the basic 12-volt wiring and breaker board, confirm the Yanmar YSM8 starts and cools properly given its modest 8-horsepower output, and inspect the under-cockpit storage area for past water intrusion since the lack of a quarter berth leaves that space exposed to cockpit hardware. The solid deck should be checked for any softness.
Availability and Buyer’s Takeaway
Cape Dory 27s are found in the United States market. For a shopper, the takeaway is a short, practical list:
- Confirm the Yanmar YSM8 runs clean and the fuel tank is sound
- Plan for self-tailing winch additions if sailing singlehanded
- Use the under-cockpit storage intelligently and check it for moisture
- Expect a simple breaker-panel 12-volt system, not modern networked electronics
- Treat a dodger and chartplotter as likely owner upgrades, not factory standard
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cape Dory 27. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 6 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $15,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $12,000 | -20.0% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $14,750 | +22.9% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $18,500 | +25.4% |
| May 26 | 3 | $3,500 | -81.1% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $10,500 | +200.0% |
Where they're listed
Cape Dory 27 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 10.
Country view
10 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $11,250 | 10 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Dory 28 | 28.1' | $ 18,750 | 20 | 6 |
| Cape Dory 27You are here | — | $ 11,250 | 10 | 1 |