Back to Search
Chrysler 27
Designer: Charles Morgan  ·  Builder: Chrysler Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1978
+ Add to Compare
About the Chrysler 27

Designed by renowned naval architect Charles Morgan and built by Chrysler Marine starting in 1978, this 27-foot sailboat represents solid American craftsmanship from the late 1970s era. The fiberglass construction features a fin keel with transom-hung rudder configuration, delivering responsive handling characteristics that make it well-suited for both coastal cruising and club racing. With a displacement of 8,000 pounds and nearly half of that weight (3,900 pounds) positioned low in the ballast, the Chrysler 27 offers reassuring stability for weekend getaways and day sailing adventures. The masthead sloop rig carries 404 square feet of sail area, providing adequate power while remaining manageable for small crews. The boat's comfort ratio of 22.36 suggests a relatively stiff, performance-oriented design that prioritizes sailing ability over interior volume. Charles Morgan's design philosophy emphasizes seaworthiness and sailing performance, evident in the boat's proportions and hull form. The capsize screening formula of 1.99 indicates good stability characteristics for coastal waters, while the theoretical hull speed of 6.77 knots provides respectable performance under sail. This makes the Chrysler 27 an excellent choice for sailors seeking a capable day sailor or weekend cruiser with proven pedigree.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.25 ft / 8.31 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.50 ft / 7.77 m
Beam 9.92 ft / 3.02 m
Max Draft 4.90 ft / 1.49 m
Displacement 8,000.00 lb / 3,629 kg
Ballast 3,900.00 lb / 1,769 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 404.00 ft² / 37.53 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Charles Morgan
Builder Chrysler Marine (USA)
First Built 1978
Associations Chrysler Sailors
Related Sailboats ["Hunter 27" · "Islander 27 2" · "Express 27" · "Bristol 277" · "Cc 27 Mk Ii"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
 168
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
 16.21
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
 48.75
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
 215.39
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
 22.36
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
 1.99
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. 6.77 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
 2.44
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. 903.85 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. 16.22
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 38.72 ft / 11.80 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 32.75 ft / 9.98 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
SA Fore 232.32 ft² / 21.58 m²
SA Main 171.94 ft² / 15.97 m²
SA Total (100%) 404.26 ft² / 37.56 m²
Est. Forestay Length 40.54 ft / 12.36 m
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 277, Express 27, Islander 27 2

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Chrysler 27 ★
27.3 ft
Bristol 277
27.3 ft
Express 27
27.3 ft
Islander 27 2
27.3 ft
LWL
Chrysler 27 ★
25.5 ft
Bristol 277
22.5 ft
Express 27
23.8 ft
Islander 27 2
23.0 ft
Beam
Chrysler 27 ★
9.9 ft
Bristol 277
10.0 ft
Express 27
8.0 ft
Islander 27 2
8.3 ft
Displacement
Chrysler 27 ★
8 lbs
Bristol 277
7 lbs
Express 27
2 lbs
Islander 27 2
4 lbs
Ballast
Chrysler 27 ★
3 lbs
Bristol 277
2 lbs
Express 27
1 lbs
Islander 27 2
1 lbs
Sail Area
Chrysler 27 ★
404 sq ft
Bristol 277
342 sq ft
Express 27
276 sq ft
Islander 27 2
285 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Chrysler 27 ★
168 s/nm
Bristol 277
—
Express 27
137 s/nm
Islander 27 2
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Chrysler 27 ★
16.2
Bristol 277
15.0
Express 27
24.4
Islander 27 2
17.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Chrysler 27 ★
48.8 %
Bristol 277
40.7 %
Express 27
44.9 %
Islander 27 2
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Chrysler 27 ★
22.4
Bristol 277
21.1
Express 27
9.6
Islander 27 2
16.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Chrysler 27 ★
1.99
Bristol 277
2.09
Express 27
2.38
Islander 27 2
2.04
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Chrysler 27 ★
215
Bristol 277
274
Express 27
81
Islander 27 2
—
Hull Speed
Chrysler 27 ★
6.8 kts
Bristol 277
6.4 kts
Express 27
6.5 kts
Islander 27 2
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Chrysler 27 ★
2.4
Bristol 277
1.8
Express 27
5.9
Islander 27 2
3.3
Find a Chrysler 27 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace