Design and Construction
Practical Sailor's survey found Catalinas are known as cheaply built boats, with lots of corners cut in places they shouldn't be cut, and the used-boat review echoes this: construction tends to be on the light side, with a solid fiberglass lay-up that is not overbuilt, particularly above the waterline. The hull may fracture from impacts that would leave a heavier built boat with only a scratch. Early boats lacked proper backing plates on hardware, and the through-hull fittings were poorly installed, while secondary bondings of attachments in some cases were poor. The through hull fittings on older boats are simply gate valves screwed onto pipe nipples glassed into the hull. These are not cosmetic shortcuts; leaking chain plates have caused the bulkheads, to which they are attached, to deteriorate, and fuel tank installations were poor on early inboard models.
Rig and Handling
The standard keel, standard rig boat with inboard carries a typical PHRF rating of 208, while under PHRF rules the model generally rates between 201 and 216, earning a reputation as a well-mannered lady with decent speed for daysailing and friendly competition between piers. A taller rig was later offered that increased the aspect ratio of the main and added some 24 square feet of sail area; paired with the deep draft keel, that combination is said to be the fastest configuration, matching the observation that the fastest version is the tall-rig, deep keel boat with outboard, and the slowest is the short rig, shoal keel with inboard. The shoal keel has a less-efficient foil and is heavier than the deep keel to give comparable stability, and outboard-powered versions are slightly faster than inboard boats since they drag less weight. The original lower shroud U-bolt chainplate fittings have failed, dropping rigs over the side, and another rig weakness is the cast aluminum spreader sockets originally used on the mast—failures of those cast sockets have cost several rigs, so they should be replaced with later stainless steel fabrications.
Accommodations
The Catalina 27 has more headroom than most 27-footers, with nominal headroom of 6 feet 1 inch, a figure that reads larger than the boat's sub-22-foot waterline would suggest. There have been two interiors: a traditional aft galley layout and a midships galley/dinette version. Most owners report that the forward V-berths are too short and too narrow to be comfortable for two people, while the quarterberths are the only decent size berths on the boat. Originally the electrical panel sat on the face of the port quarterberth; newer models moved to a good circuit breaker panel in the starboard quarterberth. Newer boats also gained two aft-facing ventilation hatches over the head and passageway plus a hatch in the forward end of the cabin trunk, and icebox insulation on older boats is non-existent for all practical purposes.
Known Issues
Beyond the rig and structural items already noted, the inboard engine installation draws uniform owner condemnation for lack of access, typically rated one or less on a five-point scale, with all inboard engines tucked under the cockpit. The icebox drain skin fitting is placed so it allows water to run back into the box when the boat is heeled. The original mainsheet traveler sat at the aft end of the cockpit; the newer location over the companionway hatch wipes out the possibility of a companionway dodger, and owners report that the forward location adds so much friction and sheet load that the mainsheet is hard to trim. The old sliding companionway hatch leaks badly if heavy spray or solid water comes aboard, though later models added a seahood and a molded-in foredeck anchor well.
Refits and Ownership
Power evolved considerably across the run. Originally you could choose an outboard or Atomic 4 gasoline inboard—the latter twice the power the boat needs—while a 10-horse outboard is about right. In the late 1970s a single-cylinder Petter diesel of about 6 hp appeared, but owners report the boat is grossly underpowered with it; far more desirable are the 11 or 14 horsepower Universal diesels of more recent models. Early models were outboard only until Catalina added the Atomic 4 in 1973 and kept an outboard option until 1989. Prospective owners should budget to replace cast spreader sockets, address chainplate leaks at the bulkheads, and consider relocating a forward traveler if a dodger is wanted.
The Verdict
The Catalina 27 is a high-volume coastal cruiser-racer whose sheer numbers make it an accessible entry to sailboat ownership, but its light construction and early-production shortcuts demand a disciplined survey. The boat sails well in its deep-keel tall-rig form and offers headroom and berth options unusual in the length, yet the inboard service access and rig hardware weaknesses are real liabilities.
Pros
- Largest production run of any US 27-foot sailboat, with parts and knowledge widely shared
- More headroom than most 27-footers at 6'1" nominal
- Deep-draft tall-rig combo is a genuinely fast coastal configuration
- Later models gained seahood, anchor well, and better electrical panels
Cons
- Light, not overbuilt hull above the waterline may fracture from modest impacts
- Inboard engine installation uniformly condemned for poor service access
- Original lower shroud U-bolts and cast spreader sockets have caused rig loss
- Early through-hulls, backing plates, and chainplate bonds are chronic weak points
