Cape Dory 27
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About the Cape Dory 27
Designed by renowned naval architect Carl Alberg, this classic 27-footer exemplifies traditional American cruising yacht design from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Cape Dory built 277 of these sturdy vessels between 1977 and 1985, establishing a reputation for solid construction and seaworthy handling that continues to attract devoted owners today. The boat's full keel with attached rudder configuration provides exceptional tracking and directional stability, making it an excellent choice for coastal cruising and short-handed sailing. With a displacement of 7,500 pounds and 3,000 pounds of ballast, this masthead sloop offers the kind of motion comfort that made Cape Dory famous among cruising sailors. The generous beam of 8.5 feet provides surprising interior volume for a 27-footer, while the moderate draft allows access to many shallow anchorages. Carl Alberg's design philosophy emphasized seaworthiness over speed, and this boat delivers exactly that. The conservative sail area and robust construction make it forgiving for newer sailors while providing the reliability experienced cruisers demand. Though not built for racing, its excellent comfort ratio of 30.28 and favorable capsize screening numbers reflect its suitability for serious coastal exploration and weekend cruising adventures.
Market Price Estimate
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$3,500 – $25,000
typical asking price
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About this estimate
- Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
- Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
- Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
- Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
- Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
- Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
27.08 ft / 8.25 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam
8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft
4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement
7,500.00 lb / 3,402 kg
Ballast
3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
365.00 ft² / 33.91 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Full keel with attached rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
Carl Alberg
Builder
Cape Dory (USA)
First Built
1977
Last Built
1985
Number Built
277
Associations
Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The deck hardware on Cape Dory 27s is typically through-bolted into balsa-cored deck sections. Water intrusion around chainplates, stanchion bases, and cleats causes balsa core rot that can be widespread before it becomes visible. Compression testing and core sampling around all deck fittings is essential.
The hull-to-deck joint on Cape Dory boats is an inward-turning flange joined with adhesive sealant and through-bolted, then covered by the toerail. This joint is prone to weeping leaks, particularly at the bow, and the toerail must be removed to properly inspect and rebed it.
The external lead keel is attached with bronze keel bolts that can corrode or loosen over time. The joint between the keel and the fiberglass sump is prone to cracking and water intrusion, allowing water to sit against the keel bolts internally. Inspection of bilge area around keel stub for weeping or staining is critical.
Most Cape Dory 27s were fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. This engine is aged, carbureted, and presents fire risk if fuel system components (rubber fuel lines, carb gaskets, fuel pump diaphragm) are not regularly replaced. Many owners have converted to small diesel auxiliaries; verify engine type and condition before purchase.
1977–1985 production
The engine compartment on the CD27 is very tight, making access to the Atomic 4's raw water pump, heat exchanger, and exhaust elbow extremely difficult. Deferred maintenance on these items is common; inspect the raw water cooling system carefully for deteriorated hoses and a corroded or cracked exhaust elbow.
Chainplate knees are glassed to the interior of the hull and are not easily inspected. Chainplate leaks are common and can saturate the glassed-in knees over years, weakening the attachment. Look for rust staining on the headliner or cabin sides near the chainplates as an indicator of long-term leakage.
The settee berths and quarter berth in the CD27 have limited ventilation beneath the cushions, and the fiberglass pans beneath tend to trap moisture, leading to mold and mildew buildup that can be persistent and difficult to fully remediate.
Original wiring on Cape Dory 27s is now 40–48 years old and was often minimal by modern standards. Period-correct wiring used tin-plated copper that can develop high resistance connections, and subsequent owner modifications are frequently non-standard. A full electrical inspection and likely rewiring should be budgeted.
The Alberg-designed CD27 uses a relatively short, stout rig with an inboard chainplate arrangement. The chainplate backing plates are known to be modest in size; if the original plates have not been replaced or reinforced, they may be inadequate for the loads of offshore sailing.
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating
PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
222
SA/Displacement
Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
15.29
Ballast/Displacement
Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
40
Displacement/Length
Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
418.53
Comfort Ratio
Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
30.28
Capsize Screening Formula
The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.74
Hull Speed
Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions.
5.99 kn
S# (Speed Number)
The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
0.94
Pounds/Inch Immersion
Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline.
607.43 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc)
Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure.
14.84
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
34.00 ft / 10.36 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
11.00 ft / 3.35 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
29.75 ft / 9.07 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
11.25 ft / 3.43 m
SA Fore
187.00 ft² / 17.37 m²
SA Main
167.34 ft² / 15.55 m²
SA Total (100%)
354.34 ft² / 32.92 m²
Est. Forestay Length
35.74 ft / 10.89 m
Mast Height (DWL)
38.50 ft / 11.73 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Yanmar
Engine Type
Diesel
Fuel Capacity
13 gals / 49 L
Water Capacity
24 gals / 91 L