Design and Construction
The Offshore 27 has a reinforced fiberglass hull built by Cheoy Lee to Lloyd’s specifications. The deck and cabinhouse have a teak overlay bonded over the basic structure, while the cockpit coaming, seats, grating, toerails, grabrails, and all other deck trim are teak as well.
Handsome overhangs fore and aft, a spoon bow, and a long, easy sheer give her a traditional profile that looks more like a wooden yacht than a molded one. Below the waterline, she is a moderately heavy-displacement boat at roughly 6,900 pounds. She has firm bilges and carries 2,700 pounds of cast-iron ballast set low—a combination the original specification credits with excellent stability characteristics.
Her waterline length is 18 feet 9 inches, with a beam of 7 feet 8½ inches and a draft of 4 feet 3¾ inches. Freeboard tapers from 3 feet 11 inches forward to 2 feet 5½ inches aft.
Rig and Handling
Standard spars were Sitka spruce, with a hollow mast and boom, although aluminum spars fabricated in the USA could be substituted. Standing rigging is stainless steel 1 x 19 with bronze turnbuckles, while the running rigging is Dacron.
The working sail plan totals 323 square feet, with the mainsail measuring 160 square feet; the boat carries just over 320 square feet of sail in all. Bridge clearance from the waterline to the masthead is 33 feet 9½ inches.
The modest rig and low-placed ballast suit a boat of her displacement. The firm bilges noted in the construction record also support the claimed steadiness under canvas.
Accommodations
Below decks, the joinerwork is teak throughout. The boat sleeps four, with a V-berth forward and settee berths in the main cabin. The manual marine head is tucked beneath the port side of the forward berth.
The galley could be arranged aft or amidships. Its equipment included a fiberglass sink, lockers, dish racks, a cutlery drawer, an outside-loading ice chest, a stove top, and a portable dining table. A hanging locker provides additional stowage.
Fresh water is carried in a 29-gallon stainless steel tank, while fuel capacity is 9 gallons. The 12-volt electrical system includes a heavy-duty battery, an engine-driven alternator, and a distribution panel with two 15-amp main fuses.
Power and Equipment
Standard propulsion was a 7-hp Volvo Penta MD-1 diesel with 1.87:1 reduction gear. Buyers could instead choose a 30-hp Universal Atomic-4 gasoline engine with direct drive or a 22-hp Palmer 1-H 60. The manufacturer also listed a Universal Atomic Stevedore gasoline engine as an alternative to the Volvo Penta MD-1, illustrating the flexibility of the small-yacht powertrain catalog in this era.
Verdict
A period review called the Newell Cadet “a little gold-plater,” an apt description for a boat whose extensive teak detailing over a Lloyd’s-spec fiberglass hull was unusual among 27-footers of her time.
She is a compact, stable coastal cruiser with traditional looks and a practical four-berth layout. Her modest tankage and small engine options, however, mark her as a vintage proposition rather than a modern performer.
Pros
- Reinforced fiberglass hull built to Lloyd’s specifications, with extensive teak trim
- Low-placed cast-iron ballast and firm bilges give excellent stability
- Flexible engine choices, including a standard diesel and gasoline alternatives
- Traditional spoon-bow profile with overhangs and an easy sheer
Cons
- Limited freshwater and fuel capacity for extended cruising
- Standard Sitka spruce spars require upkeep unless aluminum was substituted
- Compact beam and modest sail area limit accommodation and light-air speed
