The boat combines a fixed fin keel with an internally mounted spade rudder and tiller steering. Early boats have a modest draft of 4 foot 3 inches, while later Mark II versions draw 5 foot 2 inches for better upwind grip.
Design and Construction
The Newport 27 S is 27 feet overall, with a 22-foot-4-inch waterline and a 9-foot-2-inch beam. Displacement is 6,000 pounds, including 2,400 pounds of lead ballast. That gives the boat a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 0.40 and a displacement-length ratio of 241.
Capital Yachts built the 27 S predominantly of fiberglass with wooden trim. The hull itself is hand laid over a solid laminate and paired with a lead keel. This construction distinguished it from the cast-iron keels used on the builder’s other, lower-cost models.
The raised flush deck gives the boat a distinctive profile and, more practically, provides a stand-up interior with just over 6 feet of headroom. All through-hulls are bronze, although they have PVC gate valves rather than metal seacocks—a detail worth noting in any long-term ownership plan.
Inside, oiled teak adds warmth, but wood-patterned Formica covers every horizontal surface. Period reviewers found the combination visually uneven.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries 360 square feet of sail at 100 percent, for a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.4. The traveler is forward of the companionway, keeping the cockpit clear. However, friction between the traveler and its track creates a known handling hazard: adjusting the mainsheet becomes difficult and dangerous under any significant load.
Both early and Mark II boats move quickly in light air thanks to their modest displacement. Both are also tender, and weather helm increases as the wind and boat speed build. The deeper, 5-foot-2-inch-draft Mark II offers better upwind performance than the early 4-foot-3-inch version for owners who prioritize windward work.
The 27 S was never a stout offshore cruiser and is no longer a competitive racer. When upgraded, however, it remains a capable daysailer.
Accommodations
The most common layout has a V-berth, head, and small hanging locker forward of the main bulkhead. Six-foot settees run along both sides of the saloon. A table folds flush against the bulkhead when it isn’t needed; under way, the same surface doubles as a navigation station.
Aft of the settees, a small counter to port contains the sink and provides access to the icebox. Opposite is another counter with a recessed two-burner alcohol stove.
Capital Yachts offered several layout variations during the production run. These included a starboard quarter berth, a fixed dinette with raised seating fore and aft, and an aft-placed head.
Tankage is modest. The boat carries 14 gallons of water and 19 gallons of fuel, while the holding tank has a capacity of only 6 gallons.
Auxiliary Power and Maintenance
Most Newport 27 S boats came with an inboard auxiliary: either a gasoline-powered Atomic 4 or, on later boats, an 11-horsepower Universal diesel.
Engine access is excellent with either installation, simplifying routine maintenance and future repowering.
Known Issues
The main documented handling problem is friction between the traveler and its track, which makes mainsheet adjustment risky under load. The PVC gate valves fitted to the bronze through-hulls are a lesser but real concern when inspecting a prospective boat.
The 27 S is also tender and develops increasing weather helm as it heels and accelerates. These traits limit its appeal as a heavy-weather passage maker.
The Verdict
The Newport 27 S is a thoughtfully laid-out small cruiser with a hand-laid hull, lead ballast, and an interior that makes good use of the space created by its flush deck. It’s easy to move around in, simple to maintain, and quick in light air. Its tenderness, weather helm, and traveler design, however, mark it as a daysailer and coastal cruiser rather than an offshore boat.
Pros
- Hand-laid hull, lead keel, and excellent engine access
- Raised flush deck provides more than 6 feet of standing headroom
- Folding saloon table doubles as a navigation station
- Flexible interior layouts
- Good light-air performance from modest displacement and a fin-keel underbody
Cons
- Traveler friction makes mainsheet adjustment difficult and unsafe under load
- Tender motion and increasing weather helm as the wind builds
- PVC gate valves fitted to bronze through-hulls
- Holding tank capacity of only 6 gallons
- Not suited to offshore cruising or competitive racing today
