Catalina 27

About the Catalina 27

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Built

1970–1991

Builder

Catalina Yachts

Designer

Frank Butler / Bob Finch

Length

26.83 ft

Waterline

21.75 ft

Beam

8.83 ft

Draft

4 ft

Displacement

6,850 lb

Ballast

2,700 lb

Hull / keel

fin keel

Rig

sloop

Propulsion

inboard

Fuel

varies by year

Water

18 gal

Holding

21 gal

Water heater

AC + engine · factory option

Number built

6,662

Stern thruster

not fitted

Steering

tiller

Originally sold with an outboard well; Atomic 4 inboard optional from 1972, later Universal diesels. Deep, shallow (3.0 ft) and wing keels; tall rig with small bowsprit. Displacement grew over the run (about 5,650 lb early outboard boats to 6,850 lb later). Also built under license in Canada. Replaced by the Catalina 270 in 1991. Builder brochure confirms 6,850 lb displacement, 2,700 lb ballast and 4.0 ft standard draft. Builder history: hull 6,000 built May 1985.

Engines fitted

• Atomic 4 (Universal) — gas, single factory option
  Wikipedia: boats originally had an outboard well; some later boats had an inboard Universal Atomic 4 gas engine.
  Sources: en.wikipedia.org
• Universal diesel (model not named by source) — diesel, single factory option
  Wikipedia: some later boats had an inboard Universal diesel; no model or hp given.
  Sources: en.wikipedia.org
• Atomic 4 (Universal) — gas factory option
• Universal — 11 hp, diesel factory option
• Universal — 14 hp, diesel factory option

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

The 1988 owner's manual covers an optional 110 V shore-power system only; no generator appears.

Manuals and brochures online

• Owner's manual Catalina 27 Owner's Manual (1988), with reference data sheet (1988) — catalina27.net
• Owner's manual Catalina 27 Owner's Manual (1978, early hulls) (1978) — catalina27.net
• Brochure Catalina 27 sales brochure (Woodland Hills; standard and wing keel specs, no tankage) (mid-1980s) — catalinayachts.com
• Document Catalina 27 manuals and documents library (1978 and 1988 factory owner's manuals, factory parts list) (1978, 1988) — catalina27.net

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

• Lower shroud U-bolt chainplates rigging
  Some original lower-shroud U-bolt chainplates failed and cost boats their rigs; check that they have been upgraded on older boats. Owners also report leaking chainplates.
  practical-sailor.com · sailnet.com
• Cast aluminum spreader sockets rigging
  The original cast spreader sockets have failed on several boats; they should be replaced with the later stainless fittings.
  practical-sailor.com
• Gate valves on pipe nipples instead of seacocks plumbing
  Older boats have gate valves threaded onto glassed-in pipe nipples at the through-hulls; many owners have fitted proper seacocks.
  practical-sailor.com
• No backing plates; deck delamination and leaks deck
  Stanchions and deck hardware originally lacked backing plates, so gelcoat cracks around fittings are common; owners also mention deck delamination and leaking ports and hull-deck joint.
  practical-sailor.com
• Underpowered Petter diesel engine
  The late-1970s single-cylinder Petter diesel option leaves the boat badly underpowered and parts are hard to find; the Universal 11 or 14 hp diesels are preferred.
  practical-sailor.com

Engines & parts

Other Catalina models

• Catalina 22 1969–?
• Catalina 25 1976–?
• Catalina 30 1974–2008
• Catalina 320 1993–?
• Catalina 34 1985–?
• Catalina 36 1982–?
• Catalina 380 1996–?
• Catalina 400 1994–?
• Catalina 42 1989–2011