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Gulf 27
Designer: Capital Yachts  ·  Builder: Capital Yachts Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Gulf 27

Built by Capital Yachts beginning in 1970, this 27-footer represents classic American coastal cruising design from sailing's golden era. With her traditional masthead sloop rig and fin keel configuration paired with a spade rudder, the Gulf 27 offers responsive handling characteristics that appeal to both novice and experienced sailors. The boat's substantial 6,900-pound displacement and generous 2,750 pounds of ballast create impressive stability for coastal cruising and light offshore work. Her moderate beam of 9.33 feet provides comfortable interior space while maintaining seaworthy proportions. The fiberglass construction ensures durability and relatively low maintenance compared to wooden contemporaries of the era. Performance-wise, the Gulf 27 strikes a pleasant balance between comfort and sailing ability. Her sail area to displacement ratio of 15.81 indicates moderate power that won't overwhelm less experienced crews, while still providing satisfying performance in varied wind conditions. The comfort ratio of 22.78 suggests she'll handle moderate sea conditions well without excessive motion. This design works particularly well for weekend coastal cruising, sailing instruction, and as an entry-level cruiser for those seeking to explore protected waters and nearby coastal areas. The hull's proven sea-kindly characteristics have earned respect among sailors who appreciate traditional sailing qualities over pure speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.17 ft / 8.28 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Beam 9.33 ft / 2.84 m
Max Draft 4.20 ft / 1.28 m
Displacement 6,900.00 lb / 3,130 kg
Ballast 2,750.00 lb / 1,247 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 357.00 ft² / 33.17 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Capital Yachts
Builder Capital Yachts Inc. (USA)
First Built 1970
Associations Capital Yachts Info
Related Sailboats Newport 27 3 · Hunter 27 · Irwin 27 · Mirage 27 Schmidt · Cape Dory 27
Owner Reviews

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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
 216
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
 15.81
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
 39.86
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
 270.43
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
 22.78
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
 1.96
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. 6.36 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
 1.88
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. 750.09 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. 15.8
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.70 ft / 3.57 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.30 ft / 3.14 m
SA Fore 204.75 ft² / 19.02 m²
SA Main 151.93 ft² / 14.11 m²
SA Total (100%) 356.68 ft² / 33.14 m²
Est. Forestay Length 36.90 ft / 11.25 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make 2 cyl. diesel
Horsepower 15
How It Compares

vs. Cape Dory 27, Hunter 27, Irwin 27, Mirage 27 Schmidt, Newport 27 3

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Gulf 27 ★
27.2 ft
Cape Dory 27
27.1 ft
Hunter 27
27.2 ft
Irwin 27
27.1 ft
Mirage 27 Schmidt
27.2 ft
Newport 27 3
27.2 ft
LWL
Gulf 27 ★
22.5 ft
Cape Dory 27
20.0 ft
Hunter 27
22.0 ft
Irwin 27
20.5 ft
Mirage 27 Schmidt
21.5 ft
Newport 27 3
22.0 ft
Beam
Gulf 27 ★
9.3 ft
Cape Dory 27
8.5 ft
Hunter 27
9.2 ft
Irwin 27
8.7 ft
Mirage 27 Schmidt
9.3 ft
Newport 27 3
9.3 ft
Displacement
Gulf 27 ★
6 lbs
Cape Dory 27
7 lbs
Hunter 27
7 lbs
Irwin 27
6 lbs
Mirage 27 Schmidt
5 lbs
Newport 27 3
6 lbs
Ballast
Gulf 27 ★
2 lbs
Cape Dory 27
3 lbs
Hunter 27
3 lbs
Irwin 27
—
Mirage 27 Schmidt
2 lbs
Newport 27 3
—
Sail Area
Gulf 27 ★
357 sq ft
Cape Dory 27
365 sq ft
Hunter 27
303 sq ft
Irwin 27
356 sq ft
Mirage 27 Schmidt
370 sq ft
Newport 27 3
366 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Gulf 27 ★
216 s/nm
Cape Dory 27
222 s/nm
Hunter 27
213 s/nm
Irwin 27
225 s/nm
Mirage 27 Schmidt
—
Newport 27 3
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Gulf 27 ★
15.8
Cape Dory 27
15.3
Hunter 27
13.2
Irwin 27
16.2
Mirage 27 Schmidt
19.1
Newport 27 3
17.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Gulf 27 ★
39.9 %
Cape Dory 27
40.0 %
Hunter 27
42.9 %
Irwin 27
—
Mirage 27 Schmidt
40.0 %
Newport 27 3
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Gulf 27 ★
22.8
Cape Dory 27
30.3
Hunter 27
—
Irwin 27
25.6
Mirage 27 Schmidt
18.9
Newport 27 3
20.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Gulf 27 ★
1.96
Cape Dory 27
1.74
Hunter 27
—
Irwin 27
1.85
Mirage 27 Schmidt
2.10
Newport 27 3
2.04
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Gulf 27 ★
270
Cape Dory 27
418
Hunter 27
293
Irwin 27
—
Mirage 27 Schmidt
247
Newport 27 3
251
Hull Speed
Gulf 27 ★
6.4 kts
Cape Dory 27
6.0 kts
Hunter 27
—
Irwin 27
6.1 kts
Mirage 27 Schmidt
6.2 kts
Newport 27 3
6.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Gulf 27 ★
1.9
Cape Dory 27
0.9
Hunter 27
—
Irwin 27
1.5
Mirage 27 Schmidt
2.4
Newport 27 3
2.2
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