1983 Cape Dory 27

The Cape Dory 27 is a full-keel cruising sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts in East Taunton, Massachusetts, from 1977 to 1984, with about 350 hulls produced. It’s a compact, seaworthy cruiser known for its classic design, sturdy construction, and suitability for coastal cruising and occasional offshore passages. The Cape Dory 27 was part of Cape Dory’s popular line of Alberg-designed cruisers, valued for their seaworthiness and traditional styling. 

Hull and Keel Construction

• Solid Fiberglass Hull: The hull is a thick, hand-laid layup of solid fiberglass.
• Full Keel & Encapsulated Ballast: It features a full/long keel with 3,000 lbs of internal lead ballast encapsulated directly inside the fiberglass shell.
• No Keel Bolts: Because the ballast is fully encapsulated and there are no external lead/iron keel bolts to shear off, the design is famously resilient against minor groundings. [1, 2]

Deck and Cabin Construction

• Balsa-Cored Decks: The decks are hand-laid fiberglass with an end-grain balsa core for stiffness and weight reduction.
• Hull-to-Deck Joint: Cape Dory used an inward-turned fiberglass flange on the hull to support the outer edge of the deck, typically bedded and mechanically fastened.
• Mast Support Structure: The mast steps on the cabin trunk roof, supported underneath by a mild steel reinforcement plate embedded in glass that distributes the compression loads down to sturdy mahogany bulkhead compression.

This fiberglass hull was built by Cape Dory Yachts in Massachusetts and designed by Carl Alberg. The Cape Dory 27 is a diesel-powered auxiliary sloop capable of sailing most anywhere. She is a rugged yacht, with surprising speed and predictable handling. The 27 is an uncomplicated yacht universally admired by knowledgable sailors. She is an ideal cruiser with standing headroom, a complete aft galley - where ventilation is best — and where the cook can be part of the action in the cockpit Privacy is provided by two separate cabins. In her main cabin, the bulkhead-mounted table swings up and out of the way when not in use. She is a standout with generous use of teak trim on deck. Below deck, teak and other hardwoods are abundant and provide a warm, comfortable appearance. Her teak and holly cabin sole (floor) and lightning ground system are standard. Since there are many other standard features be sure to get the Cape Dory catalogue for complete listings. The Cape Dory 27... what an exciting way to sail!

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: The Cape Dory 27 trades some interior volume for a large cockpit, which is well suited to daysailing with friends aboard.

Below, the accommodations include a large V-berth and two single bunks amidships, one to port and one to starboard. The portside bunk doubles as a settee. The lack of a quarter berth is no hardship. It leaves a great deal of storage beneath the cockpit for ground tackle, sails, and other cruising clutter.

Westerbeke diesel engine located under cockpit sole and accessible in the cabin.

Mainsail: North Sail 167.34 sq ft with Dutchman furling system

Jib: North Sails 187 sq ft.

Spinnakers: 2

Standing rigging is stainless steel

Running rigging is Dacron and nylon lines

The deck-stepped mast and boom are aluminum.

Fuel: 13 gallons

Water: 24 gallons

Holding:

Speed is approximately 6 knots under power.

Two 12v batteries for starter and house. DC and AC electrical panels. Lighting includes navigation and cabin.

With sleeping accommodations for four, aft of the anchor locker is the forward cabin with two 6'3" vee berths with cushions, lockers below and a large overhead opening hatch and two port lights. Through a folding door is the head to port and hanging locker to starboard. Through another folding door is the main cabin with two 6'3" settees with cushions. Outboard of the settees is shelving. A dining table is mounted on the port forward bulkhead. In the aft cabin is the galley with Formica counters. To starboard is a stainless steel sink with cold water and a top-loading icebox outboard. To port is the propane burner with top-loading lockers outboard. In the aft center is access to the engine aft of the companionway steps. Throughout the cabin is mahogany woodwork, white ceiling, and a teak sole. There are six port lights total in the cabin with 5'10" headroom. A well designed interior.

Up the companionway steps is the large self-bailing cockpit with the tiller steering aft, excellent seating port and starboard with large lockers below. Two Lewmar 30 winches port and starboard handle the sheets and two Lewmar 40 stainless steel winches on the aft cabintop are used for the halyards. Lifelines line the decks port and starboard with stainless steel bow and stern rails.

Compass

VHF Radio

Garmin GPS on a swinging arm

Engine gauges

Dock lines

Fenders

Extra sails

Tool box

Interior cushions

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com