Back to Search
Islander 27
Designer: A.s. Pendell  ·  Builder: Wayfarer Yacht Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1969
+ Add to Compare
Videos
About the Islander 27

Designed by A.S. Pendell and built by Wayfarer Yacht Corp. beginning in 1969, this compact cruiser represents solid American boatbuilding from sailing's popular era. The Islander 27's moderate proportions and traditional masthead sloop rig make it an ideal choice for weekend coastal cruising and day sailing adventures. With its fin keel and spade rudder configuration, the boat offers responsive handling while maintaining the stability needed for comfortable family sailing. The 4,100-pound displacement provides a reassuring feel in moderate conditions, while the 1,700 pounds of ballast ensures adequate stability for coastal waters. Her fiberglass construction has proven durable over the decades, with many examples still actively sailing today. The boat's sail area of 325 square feet delivers adequate performance for recreational sailing without being overwhelming for smaller crews. Her beam of 8 feet creates reasonable interior volume for a boat this size, making weekend trips comfortable for couples or small families. The Islander 27's design strikes a practical balance between sailing ability and livability, characteristics that have kept these boats popular in the used market. This is primarily a coastal cruiser best suited for protected waters and day sailing, rather than serious offshore passages.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$1,500 – $1,500
typical asking price
Median $1,500  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$1,500 – $1,500 2
Rate a listing price
$
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) 26.58 ft / 8.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 4,100.00 lb / 1,860 kg
Ballast 1,700.00 lb / 771 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 325.00 ft² / 30.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer A.S. Pendell
Builder Wayfarer Yacht Corp. (USA)
First Built 1969
Related Sailboats ["Cal 2 27" · "Coronado 27" · "Cal 3 27" · "Tanzer 27" · "Niagara 26"]
Owner Reviews

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

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Islander 27? Submit a known issue

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
 228
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
 20.36
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
 41.46
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
 228.79
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
 18.07
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
 2
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
 2.72
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. 571.70 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. 20.35
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 31.20 ft / 9.51 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.30 ft / 3.14 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.50 ft / 8.08 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.40 ft / 3.78 m
SA Fore 160.68 ft² / 14.93 m²
SA Main 164.30 ft² / 15.26 m²
SA Total (100%) 324.98 ft² / 30.19 m²
Est. Forestay Length 32.86 ft / 10.02 m
How It Compares

vs. Cal 3 27, Coronado 27, Tanzer 27

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Islander 27 ★
26.6 ft
Cal 3 27
26.7 ft
Coronado 27
26.7 ft
Tanzer 27
26.6 ft
LWL
Islander 27 ★
20.0 ft
Cal 3 27
23.3 ft
Coronado 27
22.0 ft
Tanzer 27
22.5 ft
Beam
Islander 27 ★
8.0 ft
Cal 3 27
9.0 ft
Coronado 27
8.5 ft
Tanzer 27
9.5 ft
Displacement
Islander 27 ★
4 lbs
Cal 3 27
5 lbs
Coronado 27
6 lbs
Tanzer 27
6 lbs
Ballast
Islander 27 ★
1 lbs
Cal 3 27
2 lbs
Coronado 27
2 lbs
Tanzer 27
2 lbs
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Islander 27 ★
228 s/nm
Cal 3 27
—
Coronado 27
231 s/nm
Tanzer 27
216 s/nm
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Islander 27 ★
41.5 %
Cal 3 27
38.5 %
Coronado 27
40.8 %
Tanzer 27
36.3 %
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Islander 27 ★
228
Cal 3 27
184
Coronado 27
262
Tanzer 27
242
Find a Islander 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