Looking at a C27 to buy

[archimedes]

Hello Folks,
I'm going to look at a Com-Pac 27 tomorrow to buy.  Anything special that should look for when looking at a C27?

Anyone know what year they went front 3 to 4 port lights?


Thanks

[Tney88]

I believe the port light increase was a change in between the 1987 and 1988 model years.  As with all boats, look for water intrusion around port lights, fittings, etc.  They do use a foam core rather than balsa, so it's not as damaging as it is on some boats, but you still can do without the mold and mildew issues that water intrusion can cause.  1993 was the first year of the Westerbeke 18 hp, which is a significant upgrade from the earlier Universal Marine 10 hp.  Earlier hulls could develop osmotic blistering, but in 1994 Hutchins switched to vinyl ester resin, which eliminated that problem.   

The CP-27 is a great boat....trailerable with a large pickup, but big enough for two weeks of cruising for a couple.  Stepping and rigging the mast takes a half-day, so it's not a boat to take from lake to lake for weekend trips, but moving it once or twice a season is doable.  We do mostly lake sailing (on one lake with marinas) with ours, but tow it 370 miles each way to spend the first half of September in amongst the San Juan and Gulf Islands. 

Terry Ney
2004 CP27 "Paradiso"
Veneta, OR

[Awfeith]

What year is the boat you are looking at? Salt or fresh water. Anything from the 80's. Or 90's look at replacing all the electronics, sails and furling gear also.

André

[archimedes]

Thanks for that info,  it was helpful.

I think it is a 1987.  Not sure.  Where will I find the year on the boat?

[Awfeith]

I believe on the transom near the top on the starboard side. Last couple of numbers are the year built.

[archimedes]

Well,  I looked at the boat yesterday.  It has original sails (the jib is shredded).  Original standing rigging.  Most of (but not all) of the running rigging looks like it is near the end of it's life.  The bottom has a forest growing on it. The engine started right up, no apparent smoke.  He says he had it rebuilt in the last few years.  The cabin looks reasonable good,  although one port light looks like it had some leaking.  All the electronics including VHF,  stereo cassette (yes cassette) and depth finder, seemed to be working - but old.

My biggest concern is that the owner has painted the topsides and the decks.  He didn't do a bad job but I'm afraid of what a mess it will be if he didn't do it right and it starts peeling.

I went on NADA value website which indicates a '87 CP27 value at about $9k.  Does that sound right?

Haven't made up my mind if I want to make an offer considering all the work needed.  But I sure could use some advice on what would be a fair price to offer if I did.  The seller hasn't named a price but just asked me to make a "market value" offer - whatever that means.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Awfeith]

Sounds like a project boat, which brings up the big question, are you doing the work yourself or having it done? two things you have to check closely, Soft spots on the deck and top sides, and blisters on the bottom. Most other items are easily fixed. Between sails, rigging, electronics, canvas, and motor repairs, you can easily dump 10k to 15k into it. Sounds to me like a 5k boat. When it's all said and done, you want to be under 20k all in, otherwise you can buy a decent boat for that kind of money.

André

[deisher6]

Hey Archimedes:
I think Andre is right on.  

I bought an '86 2.5 years ago for $2300 and paid off a $2200 yard bill.  It sounded to be in about the same shape as yours, without the paint.  It cost me bout $4000 to sail and easily another $10000 in improvements to make me happy to solo in it anyplace that I want to go.  

I still do not have new sails.

Some of the things that I have done, or had done, starting at the stern: Repaired leaking lower rudder tube, starbord rungs on the stern ladder, new steering cables, painted pedestal, replaced binnacle compass, new autohelm self steering, reset shaft log, replaced cutlass bearing, repacked stuffing box 2X, made a teak deck grate, made teak drop boards, new running rigging, new holding tank*, new battery charger*, new shore power fitting*, new fittings for pump out and fresh water*, removed and cleaned fuel tank, new water pump, new glass in portholes, new gaskets in portholes, new plexiglass in hatch covers, sea hood and granny bar on dorade vents, lifelines, covers on cabin berth cushions, knot log meter and transducer, depth meter and transducer, new headliner in v-berth, replaced cover on water tank with starbord,  new bilge pump & switch, new manual bilge pump, repaired used main and jib, replaced sheaves & jam cams assembly on furling gear by the goose neck (I just did this last week parts were $265 from rig- rite!), replaced two rotted panels in the cabin and v-berth, handheld gps.

Obviously some of these things are not necessary to sail the boat, I did those first.  Then did the things so that I could take the boat out over night, like the water tank cover.  Then stuff that allowed me to navigate new places safely.  Then there is stuff like the leaking rudder tube which present themselves as solutions to problems, like where is that water coming from! Others were maintenance.

Hope this helps.  It is worth every bit to me.  I have had the boat out about 145 times in the 2.5 years that we owned her.  Just returned from a 4 day sail.

regards charlie

*PO had bought these but had not installed

[redfishnc]

I bought a 1993 about 5 years ago.  I am not the sailor that wanted a project.  An old broker once told me the cheapest boat is the one with the least to do.  Twice I have appreciated that advice.  Any older boat will have hiccups that you don't see no matter how hard you look.  Those should be accounted for in addition to the ones you do see.  If you are on a lake you may not care about the 18hp Westerbeke.  I am along the Intracoastal and all our sailing involves tides.   Our last trip to south along the ICW would have been miserable at times.  We stayed in a marina with a couple that had a beautiful older 27, the smaller engine was his only regret.  I have about 38k in this '93.  I paid 31k.

shaft log
motor mounts

[archimedes]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm worried about all the things I can't see.  And with no asking price I don't know if the seller has a realistic expectation of "fair market value".  If I'm not mistaken I think he had it on the market last year for $14k.  Which is nuts.