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I wouldn't cruise the seven seas in all of them or enter all of them in the Chicago/Mackinaw sailboat race. They each have their good points (and bad points). Don't forget, my opinion on these boats is just that, my own opinion. I wouldn't sail around the world in a Catalina 27 but many sailors have. At least one person has actually singlehanded a Catalina 27 around the world. My reply to this:"several people have gone over Niagra Falls in a barrel but I'm not going to do it." That same person that went over the falls in a barrel will probably singlehand a Catalina 27 around the world. I place the comfort rate in both about the same. Actually, here in the Great Lakes, I enjoy a 27 foot sailboat.
I've owned a couple of 27s and sailed them thousands of miles here on Lake Erie and Lake Huron. I owned a 1974 Catalina 27 for about 10 years, traded it for a new Irwin Citation 34 (my first and only new boat), and now sail a 1974 Cal 2-27.
Photo at right is a Cal 2-27, full and by, going to windward on a port tack. My Cal put the fun back into sailing for me. I'm pleased with the way my Cal 2-27 "imp" sails. I was afraid that I would be dissapointed with anything smaller than my Citation 34 but instead, find that sailing the Cal is a pleasure after the Irwin 34. If you're a Cal fan, as I am, please go back to our "Main Index Page" and visit my "Homepage for older Cal Yachts sailors". (Available after 2/15/98). See specs for this Cal 2-27 furthur down on this webpage...
The photo at right is not my Cal 2-27 "imp". My Cal "imp" is hull #106, this is hull #213). This is a beautiful photo of another Cal 2-27. I don't know who owns this 2-27 but I am sure that they're having a blast. If anyone can give me any information on this photo, my e-mail address and fax # are at the bottom of this page.If I recieve any information on this Cal 2-27 #213, I'll replace this text with the information that I receive.
More boat profiles and drawings will follow. I would like to start a Cal Yachts page (Homepage for older Cal Yacht sailors will be here by March 15, 1998). which will include as much as I can find on the older Cals. Cal seems to get a raw deal on the net. There are thousands of sites for Catalina, Hunter and the rest of the mid range boats but it's hard to find much about the Cals. The Bill Lapworth designed Cal 40 was a great leap foward in boat design, won thousands of races and titles. Catalina, Hunter, Cal, Pearson Yachts and designers like Frank Butler, Bill Shaw and Bill Lapworth brought sailing to the masses. They also started the development of the fast, pretty (and very seaworthy) sailboats of today. If anyone has any information, brochures or specs on any of the old Cal Yachts, please FAX or mail them to me and I'll try to include them in my new Cal Yachts webpage. Address & FAX # at bottom of this page.
As you might see, I've always owned low to mid price ranged boats. "Chevys" you might say. My wife Karen and I have sailed many thousands of miles in these mid priced boats. More than 95% of our sailing has been in Lake Erie which is a fresh-water lake about 250 miles long and 70 miles wide so it doesn't offer the huge waves and winds that mid-ocean does. Also good trained assistance is usually just a cell-phone call away (if you should happen to need it).
Pictured at left is a line drawing of an Alberg 30, a typical Carl Alberg design. Pearson Yachts produced the first production fiberglass sailboats. The fiberglass Pearsons were designed by Carl Alberg. They sold well and made Pearson the #1 sailboat producer in the world for many years. Click here for my humble views on Alberg designs.
Listed below, in no particular order, are a few sailboat spec sheets. I've owned some of these boats, sailed on most of them... Sailboats are the ultimate of personal preference. They evolve slowly. Many of these boats have safely sailed on every ocean in the world. I'll list the line drawings and specs on a few boats. I'll also comment on a few of the designs.
The first Catalina 27 was designed by Frank Butler and Bob Finch. They sold like hotcakes. My 1974 was hull #1416. Almost 1500 27s were built in basically the first 3 years of production. Hovever, the Catalina 27 has had a major re-design since it was first introduced in 1971. The original 27 ceased production in 1991. Total production was 6662 hulls. The current model, the Catalina 270, debued in the fall of 1992 if I'm not mistaken. (See chart below, comparing the 1974 and 1996 Catalina 27s and the Cal 2-27.) This re-design is the reason that the 27 Catalina didn't place in the longest run (years) of any sailboat over 25 feet. That honor must go to the Catalina 30. The same basic Catalina 30 has been produced from 1973 and is still going strong, making it the longest produced sailboat over 25 feet in the world. I include the specs below for both designs of the 27. The profile shown is of the 1974 model year.
The image below is of a 1974 Catalina 27. The top views in the profile show both the traditional and the dinette style interiors. The '74 was over a foot narrower than the newer design. The newer, wider boat provides more living area but is more complicated to trailer. The extra width also provides more initial stability with a thousand pounds LESS ballast. The new design, no doubt, is faster. One drawback to the wider boat is that some of the wide fat designs can turn "turtle" and remain there for quite a length of time in the right conditions (remember Fastnet?). Maybe I worry too much. I still like the old design better. If you want a light fat sailboat, why not just omit ALL the lead and buy a catamaran.
I owned a 1974 Catalina 27 (#1416) back in the '70s. It was probably one of the best boats I've ever owned. It was quick, comfortable, and built like a rock. I've owned larger sailboats but for my sailing, here in the Great Lakes, I like a 27 footer. They have a tall enough mast to grab good air and the sails are still small enough to manage easily. Since our sailing is usually just my wife and I, a 27 offers ample accommodations. Insurance and dockage is much cheaper for the 27 footer.
My 1974 27 was a bit heavier than the new 27 but probably had a stronger hull. My 1983 Irwin Citation only had a hull thickness of about 1/4 inch at the turn of the bilges. My 1974 Catalina had almost 5/8 inch in the same area. In order to save weight, Irwin depended on high tech glass mat and resins plus a unidirectional grid structure for hull strength while the older boats just used layer after layer of good old hand laid cloth and glass mat. My opinion... give me the extra weight and the layer after layer of glass mat.
These new redesigned 27s have a slightly different keel shape, offer a wing keel as an option, and have an open transom with steps up into the cockpit.
If you purchase a new 27 here are some of the features: 5 year blister protection limited warranty*, pedestal steering with engine controls, double lifelines, stern boarding platform with swim ladder, self tailing winches, double spreader rig, full batten main, internal halyards led aft to stoppers, molded-in nonskid deck, genoa furling.
* many fiberglass hulls built in the 1980s had blistering problems. There were very few of these problems in the 70s and they seem to have it corrected now. I don't know what the caused this but it cost many owners many thousands of $$$. Make sure you check this part of the warranty when purchasing a fiberglass hull.
The Cal 2-27 was designed by Bill Lapworth. The boat was a major competitor to Frank Butler and his Catalina 27s during the 70s and 80s. Actually, I think that the Cal 2-27 is a little faster than the Catalina 27, having a taller stick, more sail, a harder turn at the bilges and a slightly flatter bottom.
The Cal's interior was not as nice as the Catalina. Frank Butler, of Catalina, seemed more concerned with the creature comforts of the interior and exterior of his 27 while Bill Lapworth seemed more concerned with the performance end of sailing. People seem to buy boats more for the creature-comforts. Note that Catalina Yachts is alive and well while Cal Yachts is gone... I've owned both boats, crewed on both. Matter of fact, I own a 1974 Cal 2-27 right now.
Here's some things I like better on the Cal. The lead keel was bolted directly to the bottom of the hull on the Catalina but Lapworth includes a fiberglass skeg (about 14 inches) into the bottom of his hull and bolts the external lead ballast on the the bottom of the skeg. This puts the ballast weight much lower in the Cal. The turn at the bilges is a bit harder on the Cal, making it initially stiffer and providing more interior room at the cabin sole. Here are the specs for the Cal 2-27.
I don't display a line drawing here of the Cal 2-27 but it would be similar to the line drawing of the Pearson 26 below. The interior layout is remarkably the same as the Pearson 26. Only the specs differ... The Cal is larger and heavier than the Pearson 26 and the keel and rudder are not swept back as much. Line drawings of the Cal 2-27 as well as several photos of my 2-27 "imp" can be seen on my Cal 2-27 page. The 2-27 page can be accessed from my Cal Yachts webpage in the links near the bottom of the page.
I've owned only 6 sailboats. I started sailing during the early '70's with a used 14 foot Ray Green Rascal, then a McGregor Venture 21, then bought a used 1974 Catalina 27, sailed the Catalina for 9 or 10 years, bought a new 1983 Irwin Citation 34. I sold the 34 in 1989 and bought a used 1974 Cal 2-27. For my sailing in Lake Erie and Lake Huron, I liked the 27 foot length. A 27 is easy to maintain, has enough sail area to sail well but the sails aren't too large for one person to handle. Not that I enjoy singlehanding, I mostly sail with my wife but generally she has the helm and I do the sails. Even though I like a 27 for ease of maintenance, I'm now in the process of building a Bruce Roberts 35A from mild steel.
As far as sailing, I like the Cal better than the Catalina. The '74 Catalina had a much nicer interior, however. Catalina Yachts redesigned the 27 sometime between 1974 and 1996. It's intresting how they leaned toward the Lapworth designed Cal 27 in this redesign. They increased the beam, draft and waterline length. They also lightened the boat like all the builders of today's era. Myself, I don't mind the extra hull weight. I cruise mostly and usually have the boat loaded fairly heavy anyhow.
The Bill Shaw designed Pearson 26 was produced for about 13 years, from about 1970 to about 1983. The Pearson 30 was produced for 9 years from about 1971 to 1980. They were both top-o-the-line boats as far as I'm concerned. Hulls like iron, sailed well. I've heard of very little problems with either boat. Some of these models that have seen a lot of salt water use, should have the keel bolts checked for electrolysis. Even if the keel bolts are bad, as long as the hull/keel joint isn't leaking, the bolts can be replaced, one at a time, without separating the hull and the keel. (so I hear)
This 26 footer has an aft-raked spade rudder and a beautiful fin keel. Bill Shaw designed this Pearson in 1970. It has sold very well. Note the cut-away rudder and the aft-slanting keel. Ballast/displacement ratio is 40 percent. Waterline is 83 percent of overall length. A double folding door gives the forepeak privacy. There is a double berth and under-berth storage. A translucent hatch over- head gives light and air. Aft, the optional, portable WC is to port with a hanging locker opposite. A solid door isolates this area from the main cabin. There is a dinette with seats facing fore and aft which converts to a double berth. The settee opposite becomes a single. The galley lies across the hull with the sink to port, the optional stove to starboard, and the ice chest under the ladder. In the cockpit there are two under-seat lockers and a well in the transom for the outboard. A separate locker holds the gas tank. There is also storage for the anchor in the forepeak. The main cabin has four fixed ports. The backstay is adjustable and there are two winches for sheeting and a topping lift. Genoa tracks are on the rail.
While I'm talking about the Pearson 26 I must mention the Pearson 30 of the same era. No line drawing of the 30 but it was a true big brother to the 26. The specs were: LOA = 29' 9.5", Beam = 9' 6", Displacement = 8320 pounds, Draft = 5', Bridge clearance = 42' 4". The 30 came with a Universal Atomic 4 inboard as and a full equipped galley as standard equipment.
Pacific Seacraft builds a top of the line craft. The glass hulls are sometimes several inches thick under the waterline. Interiors are beautiful and immaculate. The long overhangs don't help it conform to any racing rules but she'll ride better in a heavy chop. This boat is my #1 choice in a "cruise the world" sailboat but, to tell the truth, I can't afford one. If I could, I would have one... Note that this boat is 2000 pounds heavier than my Irwin Citation 34 even though it's over a foot narrower and more than a foot shorter on the waterline. Again, I'll take the extra weight! In all fairness, my Irwin would probably whip this Crealock, boat for boat, in most any weather but as I near the 60 year mark, this doesn't seem as important as it did 30 years ago. A 20 foot Sea Ray would whip 'em both!
The line drawing of this Crealock 34 is very similar to the line drawing of the Crealock 37 below. Only the specs differ.
I owned a 1983 Irwin Citation 34 for 6 years. The boat was a shoal draft, centerboard model. The boat sailed decently and had a beautiful interior. The first year that I owned the boat, I was beating back to Port Clinton, Ohio from Scudder's Wharf on Pelee Island. This trip is about 30 miles as the crow flies. We were hard on the wind, leeward rail kissing the water, centerboard down, pounding hard against the famous 4 and 5 foot Lake Erie chop when my wife called from below. "Come down here, it sounds like this boat is breaking apart!" I went below and noticed the hull was oilcanning (hull flexing) badly to the point that the flexing had torn several of the cabin sole screws loose. I had sailed my 1974 Catalina 27 in the same conditions and never heard noises like this. I went topside, reduced sail to ease the pounding. We continued our trip to Port Clinton and arrived safely.
An inspection after our arrival showed that most of the stainless steel screws that held the 3/4 inch plywood sole in place had been torn loose from the hull's structural framework system. I called Irwin Yachts and talked to an employee who told me that the flexing was normal and to refasten the cabin sole with a size larger screws. He said that the complete hull/structural framework/sole assembly were built of high tech plastics and were strong only as a unit. I refastened the sole as he told me but also doubled the number of screws. I never had any more trouble but always worried about the boat's hull strength. I never pushed the boat hard after that. I sold her in 1989.
I've said this before and I'll say it again. "Maybe "high tech" is OK but give me the old, heavy, layer after layer of glass matt and roving." It makes for a heavier boat but sure does make me feel better. I've heard stories about other designs (good, expensive designs) that would oilcan in certain conditions. Perhaps I worry too much... My Irwin never let me down, always sailed well, but that beat back from Pelee always stayed on my mind.
I included the Irwin here because Karen and I did like the boat. It was a little tender but sailed very well. The Yanmar 3 cylinder diesel always performed perfectly. The helm was easy to handle even in strong blows. The galley and the interior were beautiful. We enjoyed the shallow draft and the centerboard really helped on the windward legs. When pushing the boat to windward, weather helm could be reduced quickly by simply cranking the centerboard up about halfway, moving the keel's lifting effort aft (also letting the boat slide a little more). This always kept Karen happy on the helm until I could shorten up the main. After a reef or two were tucked into the main, the centerboard could be lowered fully again.
This sailboat may be seen in either sloop, cutter, or yawl, so hull shape is important for identification. It has a very distinctive stern. Long spoon bow with chin. Two-and-three porthole layouts are also available. Underwater lines show a very normal fin keel, but the canoe stern is unusual. The cutter rig shown does not indicate staysails. Maximum beam is aft. Below, the main saloon appears spacious. A double berth is to starboard, a single to port. There is unusual storage in the fo'c'sle, with five drawers, a hanging locker, and a vanity to port, and three drawers under the double berth. The head has a grating over the shower drain. Aft is a navigation station, seat, and double quarter berth. The galley is to starboard and has three burners, a double sink, top-loaded refrigerator, and oven. The cockpit has three seat lockers, and there is a transom locker. Two skylights are over the forecabin and the saloon. A short jib track, a traveler, and three winches are mounted on the coach roof. A genoa track is mounted on deck inboard, with leads to two primary cockpit winches. There is pedestal-wheel steering.
This boat is my ultimate offshore cruiser. Mild steel, long fin keel, skeg mounted rudder. Note the similarity of this design to the Crealock 34 and 37 shown above. I am finishing one of these in my back yard at this time. The hull, deck, mast, rigging, and engine are completed. I'm now working on the interior.
As you can see by the line drawing on the right, I've extended the back of the cabintop by 14 inches. This shortens the cockpit but adds interior space to the main salon. The cockpit is still long enough fo a large person to take a comfortable nap.
This style of hull has tremendous strength and the fin keel offers good windward ability. The steel hull will absorb shock and bend with impact where fiberglass would crush and tear. This makes me feel much better when sailing at night when it's possible to hit a partially submerged object such as a floating log.
The Catalina 30, designed by Frank Butler, has had the longest production run of any boat in it's size class. It was first designed, if I'm not mistaken, in the early 1970s and is still going strong today. I would have said this about the Catalina 27 but the hull has been changed a little too much to call it the same boat. This 30 is the exact same boat. mustabeenagoodun'
If I were to purchase a new Catalina 30, it would probably be a standard rig with the wing keel. If, for some reason, I purchased a tall rig it would have the deep fin keel. Being 60 years old now, I would still probably get the wing keel, standard rig and the largest diesel available.
I said earlier that most of these boats have sailed every ocean in the world, and they have. Myself, I prefer a skeg mounted rudder on any boat that I take offshore. A skeg mounted rudder will take a lot more pounding than a spade. When a spade rudder breaks, it is usually gone. This makes it hard to jury rig. I know, spade rudders have circled the world, many times singlehanded. Still, offshore, give me a steel hull and deck and a skeg mounted rudder (see the Roberts 34 above).
I was in an offshore storm. We were in an Endeavor 37, heading from Nassau thru the Tongue of the Ocean, to Chub Cay. The blow lasted more than 30 hours. We were lucky and finally managed to make shelter behind Whale Cay, a small horseshoe shaped island. Others were not so lucky.
Even back then, when I was younger and carefree, I worried about the boat's hull. We had an Avon life raft but getting it inflated and everyone into it is something I don't even want to think about. Now, 33 years later, maybe the storm wasn't as bad 
as I thought. But also, even now, I know that a hull, deck or rudder failure would have been catastrophic. But all went well, the only major damage was a torn mainsail. For this reason an Endeavor 37 will be included in this review. That Endeavor took a terrific pounding during that blow and never even whimpered.
This, of course, is a snapshot of my present boat, still under construction. She's a hearty ol girl, with most of the modern conveniences of home. The path, of course, leads to the outdoor head. All she needs is a good coat of paint and she'll be ready for a world cruise. As you can see by the photo, I have already started setting sail. I'll be ready when the tide comes in.
e-mail me a comment about this page. go2erie@sssnet.com 