Witus 27 Buyer's Guide
The Witus 27 is a 27-foot Swedish sloop built by Motala Boatyard from 1970, with only 46 examples produced. She is a traditional long-keel coastal cruiser with a transom-hung rudder, a fractional 7/8 rig, and a 10-horsepower diesel. For a shopper on the used market, the small production run means viewings will be infrequent and each hull should be judged individually. The hull is solid fiberglass with a long keel and an externally mounted iron ballast of 1,000 kg, making her a sturdy but age-sensitive coastal boat.
What to Inspect
On a specific boat, pay close attention to the externally mounted iron keel: the hull is single-laminate fiberglass with the iron ballast bolted on outside, so examine the keel-to-hull joint for staining, softening, or fastener corrosion. Probe the iron keel itself for deep rust pitting and check that the keel bolts are not weeping. With a transom-hung rudder on a 1970s hull, inspect the rudder stock and the transom attachment for play or cracking. The 10 hp diesel (Volvo Penta MD6A or Yanmar) should be started cold; verify the 17-gallon fuel and 40-liter water tanks are sound and unpressurized. Because no surveyor has yet completed a class-wide inspection of the Witus 27 professional inspection for the Witus 27 has not been completed, engage a marine surveyor to assess the individual hull before purchase.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
A short checklist for any Witus 27 you go to see:
- Inspect the external iron keel joint and bolts for rust or weeping
- Check the transom-hung rudder stock for free play
- Start the 10 hp diesel cold and watch for smoke
- Confirm the mahogany interior is free of rot around ports and sole
- Verify tank integrity before committing to survey
- Commission a surveyor for a full hull and systems report