may have found 1st boat...BUT...

[Rol1964]

Possible first boat / have questions / appreciate your advice:
1978 Catalina 27. Hasn't been in the water in last 2 years. Recent work done by current owner (windows, woodwork, bottom paint, some electrics, Atomic 4 was rebuilt but is not installed, new head, new 2 burner stove, etc.) but still a few things left to do and needs cosmetic attention. As the "all in" asking price is in the right range, this might be a boat worthy of consideration and deeper investigation.
Now for the "BUT" ...... there's a good sized crack in the forward bilge floor area. It appears to extend forward of the foremost keel bolt (all keel bolts are very rusted) and travels up towards the lines running through the forward vertical bilge well. It appears to my inexperienced eye that this might be a common occurrence due to the proximity of the throughway for the aforementioned lines.
This boat is on a custom trailer, sitting in the guys driveway (appears to be one of his many unfinished projects). He's owned it for 6 years.
Any comments appreciated. Is there a Catalina 27 forum? I was unable to find one.
Many thanks in advance for guidance.
Cheers.

[Cheechako]

It's hard to visualize. Lines in the bilge? Need a pic I think. "Catalina smile?"

[Rol1964]

Should be uploaded

[john61ct]

Even if it's being sold for a song, worth every penny to spend a couple-few hundred dollars having a qualified pro give even an informal survey.

No written report required, just costs + time spent, with you present, stop as soon as a major misrepresentation / dealbreaker is found.

[Chotu]

I see the crack. What an odd spot to crack. I can also see how an impact of the keel could create it, given the local geometry.

Take a close look at the keel.Do you see any big dings in the bottom or front of it?

[Rol1964]

Good point about possible keel impact. I should’ve thought of that. However the keel doesn’t show any signs of impact or any obvious repair jobs.
Hiring a pro is what I meant by “deeper investigation” above.
Couple more snaps...

[nelly]

Looks like something that can be repaired with a bit of work, but I would also be concerned about the keel bolts. Nuts at least seem like they will want to be replaced soon.

But, hell. There are probably a few thousand C27s with worse shape bolts and nuts sailing around every day

[Cheechako]

My guess is that is just a bunch of accumulated resin and gel coat... which always cracks when it is thick and inadvertent. But worth investigating further.

[Rol1964]

Originally Posted by odonnellryan

Looks like something that can be repaired with a bit of work, but I would also be concerned about the keel bolts. Nuts at least seem like they will want to be replaced soon.

But, hell. There are probably a few thousand C27s with worse shape bolts and nuts sailing around every day

I was wondering about that very thing.....!
And I see some of the nuts have washers and some don't? WTF?

[Rol1964]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

My guess is that is just a bunch of accumulated resin and gel coat... which always cracks when it is thick and inadvertent. But worth investigating further.

Yes. Looking closer this makes sense. Sort of a false bottom....might explain why some keel bolt are missing washers too. They're their but covered under sloppy glass work....?

[Stu Jackson]

There used to be an active owners association website for the C27, but its domain name just expired, in April 2019.


They're great boats.


You have found one of the very worst.


Doesn't matter how much you think you're saving, but a boat that size with an inboard engine, particularly that boat, means NO access to the stuffing box. I've seen them. The boat was designed for an outboard in the well.


There are tons of C27s out there. I recommend you find one you can actually sail.


Good luck.

[Rol1964]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

There used to be an active owners association website for the C27, but its domain name just expired, in April 2019.


They're great boats.


You have found one of the very worst.


Doesn't matter how much you think you're saving, but a boat that size with an inboard engine, particularly that boat, means NO access to the stuffing box. I've seen them. The boat was designed for an outboard in the well.


There are tons of C27s out there. I recommend you find one you can actually sail.


Good luck.

You may be absolutely correct. Hence all my questions. There’s no outboard motor well but current owner has installed a mount on the transom. He is offering the 15 hp Johnson outboard along with everything else.
Stuffing box is in here:

[Mike Banks]

Do you have a good pair of running shoes?

[Rol1964]

Originally Posted by Mike Banks

Do you have a good pair of running shoes?

Ok I’ll bite......for what?

[S/V Illusion]

It never ceases to amaze when some people look to completely unknown internet jockeys for advice in making purchase decisions.

Get a reputable marine surveyor unless you would prefer taking advice from strangers who haven’t even seen the boat.