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Columbia 27
Designer: William Tripp Jr.  ·  Builder: International Marine (Aus)  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Columbia 27

Designed by the renowned William Tripp Jr. and first launched in 1970, this 27-footer represents classic American yacht design from the golden age of fiberglass sailboat production. Built by International Marine in Australia, the Columbia 27 features a traditional masthead sloop rig with a modern fin keel and spade rudder configuration that provides responsive handling and decent windward performance. With a displacement of 6,235 pounds and 2,800 pounds of ballast, this boat strikes a reasonable balance between stability and performance. The hull speed of 6.31 knots makes it suitable for relaxed coastal cruising, while the sail area of 310 square feet provides adequate power in light to moderate conditions. The beam of 8.5 feet offers comfortable interior space without sacrificing seaworthiness. The Columbia 27 earned a solid reputation as an affordable entry point into sailing, particularly appealing to families and new sailors seeking a manageable yet capable cruiser. The comfort ratio of 23.68 suggests a relatively stiff, quick motion that favors day sailing and short coastal passages over extended offshore voyaging. The capsize screening value of 1.85 indicates good stability characteristics for protected waters and nearshore sailing adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.67 ft / 8.13 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.17 ft / 6.76 m
Beam 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft 5.42 ft / 1.65 m
Displacement 6,235.00 lb / 2,828 kg
Ballast 2,800.00 lb / 1,270 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 310.00 ft² / 28.80 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Tripp Jr.
Builder International Marine (AUS)
First Built 1970
Related Sailboats ["Ericson 27" · "Cal 2 27" · "Coronado 27" · "Islander 27" · "Tanzer 27"]
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Performance Ratios
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
 14.69
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
 44.91
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
 255.44
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
 23.68
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
 1.85
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. 6.31 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
 1.9
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. 673.33 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. 14.69
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.30 ft / 8.02 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
SA Fore 165.38 ft² / 15.36 m²
SA Main 144.65 ft² / 13.44 m²
SA Total (100%) 310.03 ft² / 28.80 m²
Est. Forestay Length 33.20 ft / 10.12 m
How It Compares

vs. Cal 2 27, Coronado 27, Islander 27

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia 27 ★
26.7 ft
Cal 2 27
26.6 ft
Coronado 27
26.7 ft
Islander 27
26.6 ft
LWL
Columbia 27 ★
22.2 ft
Cal 2 27
22.1 ft
Coronado 27
22.0 ft
Islander 27
20.0 ft
Beam
Columbia 27 ★
8.5 ft
Cal 2 27
9.3 ft
Coronado 27
8.5 ft
Islander 27
8.0 ft
Displacement
Columbia 27 ★
6 lbs
Cal 2 27
6 lbs
Coronado 27
6 lbs
Islander 27
4 lbs
Ballast
Columbia 27 ★
2 lbs
Cal 2 27
3 lbs
Coronado 27
2 lbs
Islander 27
1 lbs
Sail Area
Columbia 27 ★
310 sq ft
Cal 2 27
374 sq ft
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
325 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Columbia 27 ★
—
Cal 2 27
—
Coronado 27
231 s/nm
Islander 27
228 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Columbia 27 ★
14.7
Cal 2 27
16.9
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
20.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Columbia 27 ★
44.9 %
Cal 2 27
—
Coronado 27
40.8 %
Islander 27
41.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia 27 ★
23.7
Cal 2 27
22.8
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
18.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Columbia 27 ★
1.85
Cal 2 27
1.97
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
2.00
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Columbia 27 ★
255
Cal 2 27
—
Coronado 27
262
Islander 27
228
Hull Speed
Columbia 27 ★
6.3 kts
Cal 2 27
6.3 kts
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Columbia 27 ★
1.9
Cal 2 27
1.9
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
2.7
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