The model shares a complex and fascinating industrial lineage. Charley Morgan simultaneously licensed variations of this 27-foot hull form. The Heritage Super 27 shares its core design and tooling with the Chrysler CY 27 (built by Chrysler Marine) and the subsequent TMI 27, which emerged after Texas Marine International purchased the Chrysler molds around 1980. Compared to more modern, lightweight 27-footers of its era—such as the Abbott 27 or the race-oriented J/27—the Heritage Super 27 was engineered with a much heavier layup and a remarkably high ballast ratio. Inside, the cabin layout is defined by warm, hand-laid teak joinery, structural bulkheads bonded directly to the hull, and an expansive feel that belies its length.
Variations & Configurations
While the fundamental hull shape remained consistent throughout its short production run, the transitions between builders introduced minor styling and interior arrangement variations. The initial Heritage Super 27 run features the most traditional, artisan-grade woodwork, while later Chrysler and TMI executions integrated more molded fiberglass liners to speed up production.
The boat was configured as a high-aspect masthead sloop, which carries its sail area lower and reduces the heeling moment compared to more aggressive fractional rigs of the period. Under the water, the boat is fitted with a deep, high-performance fin keel drawing 4.9 feet, paired with a balanced spade or transom-hung rudder depending on the exact build transition. Unlike many mass-market competitors of the late 1970s, there was no shoal-draft centerboard or wing-keel option offered directly from the Heritage factory, reflecting Morgan’s insistence on uncompromising upwind tracking and ultimate stability.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The sailing characteristics of the Heritage Super 27 are heavily dictated by its stout physical properties. With a displacement of 7,900 pounds and an incredibly high ballast-to-displacement ratio of 49.37%, this is an exceptionally stiff and powerful boat. At a time when competitors were shaving weight to satisfy racing rules, Morgan designed a boat that stands up to its canvas far longer than its peers. It heels predictably to a point of primary stability and locks in, providing a dry, reassuring ride even when the breeze rises above 15 knots.
The boat's displacement-to-length ratio of 212.7 confirms its status as a medium-heavy displacement cruiser. It has enough momentum to easily punch through a steep head-chop that would stop lighter boats of this length in their tracks. A comfort ratio of 22.06 ensures a sea-motion that is surprisingly mild for a 27-footer, mitigating the quick, tiring motion typical of ultralight pocket cruisers.
With a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 16.29, the Super 27 is not an outright light-air flyer, but its large foretriangle under the masthead rig allows owners to fly substantial overlapping genoas to maintain speed in light breezes. Its capsize screening formula of 1.99 sits just below the traditional threshold of 2.0, indicating that the vessel possesses the reserve stability and self-righting characteristics necessary to navigate demanding coastal passages and offshore club races with confidence.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Today, the Heritage Super 27 is a rare find on the brokerage market, largely because the Clearwater yard operated on a limited scale before its early 1980s closure. Because of its build quality and pedigree, it commands a slight premium over more common, lightly built production boats of the same vintage, yet it remains firmly in the "budget pocket-cruiser" price tier.
Prospective buyers often look at these boats as high-potential projects for sweat-equity restoration. Because the original fiberglass deck and hull laminates were laid up heavily by hand, they represent highly stable platforms for long-term ownership. The primary economic consideration for a buyer is the condition of the auxiliary power. Many of these hulls were originally delivered with small gasoline engines or early-generation diesels that are now at the end of their operational lives, meaning that re-powering costs can easily exceed the initial purchase price of the vessel.
Known Issues & Triage
The primary areas of concern for any classic Heritage Super 27 center on the deck core and the keel-to-hull joint.
- Deck Delamination: Like almost all pocket cruisers of this era, the Super 27 utilizes a balsa-cored deck. Hardware mountings for stanchions, jib tracks, and chainplates must be thoroughly inspected for water intrusion. Any soft spots around these high-load areas require localized recoring with marine plywood or high-density foam, followed by re-bedding with epoxy.
- Keel Joint Integrity: Given the boat's massive 3,900-pound external ballast casting hanging on a deep fin, the fiberglass floors around the keel bolts are subject to immense stress, particularly if the boat has ever experienced a hard grounding. Buyers must check for crazing or fractures in the fiberglass grid system inside the bilge and verify the torque and structural condition of the keel bolts.
- Compression Post Settling: If the cabin top step has leaked water over several decades, moisture can travel down to the wooden block supporting the mast compression post beneath the cabin sole. If this block rots, the deck head will subtly sag, binding the sliding companionway hatch and throwing rig tension out of tune. Repairing this involves jacking up the deck head and replacing the support block with a rot-proof composite material like G-10.
The Verdict
The Heritage Super 27 is an over-engineered, stiff, and highly seaworthy pocket cruiser designed by one of the true pioneers of the fiberglass era. It is a "sailor's boat" that trades raw interior volume and light-air speed for structural safety, predictable tracking, and ocean-capable stability.
Pros
- Exceptional stiffness and stability due to a nearly 50% ballast ratio.
- High build quality with robust, hand-laid fiberglass and classic teak joinery.
- Favorable seaworthiness indicators, including a capsize screening ratio under 2.0.
- Heavy, comfortable motion that easily handles steep coastal chop.
Cons
- Scarce market availability makes finding clean, original examples difficult.
- Age-related vulnerability to deck core rot, especially around chainplates and stanchions.
- Moderate light-air performance compared to contemporary, lightweight racers.
- High probability of requiring an expensive diesel re-power or substantial system updates.
