Substantial enough for coastal work, the Coronado 27 can also be trailered with effort. Its weight and draft, however, keep it from being a lightweight trailer sailor in practice.
Design and Construction
The Coronado 27 measures 26.67 feet overall, with a 22-foot waterline and an 8.5-foot beam. It displaces 6,250 pounds and draws 5.42 feet with its fin keel.
Tripp’s design combines a fin keel and spade rudder with sturdy fiberglass construction and solid layup in both the hull and deck. Its early-1970s production placed it among Whittaker’s standardized cruiser-racer offerings. The near-identical relationship with the Columbia 27 also points to a mature production tool rather than a one-off.
Rig and Handling
The Coronado 27 is a masthead sloop. Its foretriangle has an I dimension of 32.40 feet and a J of 10.75 feet, while the mainsail has a 27-foot luff (P) and a 9.50-foot foot (E).
The fin keel and spade rudder give the boat straightforward handling. Period summaries describe it as well suited to balancing coastal cruising comfort with club-racing potential. At 27 feet, it’s small enough to manage short-handed, but its 6,250-pound displacement calls for respect on the trailer and at the ramp.
Accommodations
Reviewers note a spacious interior for a boat of this size. The 8.5-foot beam provides room without giving the hull a barge-like form, while the 22-foot waterline allows a reasonable cabin footprint for overnight use.
The design works as a family weekender or a solo coastal hopper. It suits two kinds of use: relaxed weekends at anchor and single-handed hops along the shore.
Verdict
The Coronado 27 is a modest-production Tripp design that offers a sturdy, roomy coastal platform with uncomplicated systems and a shared lineage with the Columbia 27. Its fin-keel heritage, straightforward handling, and masthead rig make it an approachable club racer and weekender. Its weight and draft, however, limit its practicality as a trailer sailor.
Pros
- Sturdy, solid fiberglass construction
- Spacious interior for a 27-foot boat
- Straightforward handling with a masthead sloop rig
- Designed by fin-keel pioneer William H. Tripp Jr.
Cons
- Trailerable only with effort because of its displacement and draft
- Limited production run of roughly 100 to 150 hulls
