Aloha 27

Aloha 27

Development
Designer	Robert Perry
Location	Canada
Year	1979
No. Built	188
Builder(s)	Ouyang Boat Works
Boat
Boat Weight	5,200 lb (2,359 kg)
Air Draft	40.00 ft (12.19 m)
Hull
Type	Monohull
Construction	Fiberglass
LOA	26.50 ft (8.08 m)
LWL	22.50 ft (6.86 m)
Beam	9.42 ft (2.87 m)
Engine Type	Inboard BMW, Volvo or Westerbeke diesel engine or an outboard motor
Hull Appendages
Keel/Board Type	fin keel
Ballast	2,000 lb (907 kg)
Rudder(s)	internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig
General	Fractional rigged sloop
I (Foretriangle Height)	30.00 ft (9.14 m)
J (Foretriangle Base)	10.75 ft (3.28 m)
P (Mainsail Luff)	31.75 ft (9.68 m)
E (Mainsail Foot)	11.25 ft (3.43 m) (11.25 ft (3.43 m) before 1981 model)
Mast Length	33.00 ft (10.06 m)
Sails
Mainsail area	178.59 sq ft (16.592 m2)
Jib / Genoa area	161.25 sq ft (14.981 m2)
Total sail area	339.84 sq ft (31.572 m2)
Misc
PHRF	207 (average)

The Aloha 27 is a series of Canadian sailboats, that were designed by America yacht designer Robert Perry and first built in 1979 under the designation Aloha 26.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The Aloha 26, 27, 8.2, 271 are all closely related designs. Although the hulls are identical and were produced in the same mould, the builders used several different sail and mast suppliers during the production run of the designs and specifications for the boats produced varied accordingly. Many of the boats produced have interchangeable sails and other parts.^[5][6][7] Despite having so many designations for the vessel, Aloha 27 is colloquially used as the model designation.

Production

The design was built between 1979 and 1987 by Ouyang Boat Works in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, under the Aloha Yachts brand. During that period the company built 188 of the Aloha 27 design.^[2]

After the bankruptcy of Ouyang, DH Boatbuilding of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia purchased the mould and built two (as the Parks 27), one in 1989 and the last in 1995 before DH ceased building boats altogether in 2000.

Design

Aloha 27

The Aloha 27 series are all small recreational keelboats, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. They all have fractional sloop rigs, internally-mounted spade-type rudders and fixed fin keels. They are fitted with a tiller, although a wheel was a factory option. They all displace 5,200 lb (2,359 kg) and carry 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ballast encapsulated inside a fibreglass keel.^[2][3][5][6]

The series all have a draft of 4.33 ft (1.32 m) with the standard keel fitted.^[2]

The boat came with an outboard motor provision as standard with the option of an inboard BMW, Volvo Penta or Westerbeke diesel engine powering a saildrive unit. The early versions had the BMW powerplant of 7 hp (5 kW), which some owners found underpowered and that led to the Westerbeke engine of 10 hp (7 kW) being substituted. The fuel tank holds 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 14 U.S. gallons (53 L; 12 imp gal).^[2][5][8]

The original production run boats featured such amenities as Barient winches, tufted crushed velour cushions, oversized spars, pulpit and lifelines, as well as internal halyards.^[8]

Of the interior accommodations, reviewer Michael McGoldrick noted:

The Aloha 27 comes with a fairly spacious cabin which carries well forward. It has a comfortable interior that is slightly different from the run-of-the-mill layout found on the average boat in the size range. (Note that what appears to be a truncated settee on the port side of the main cabin actually converts into a full length berth for sleeping.)^[5]

The Aloha 27 has a PHRF racing average handicap of 207 and a hull speed of 6.53 kn (12.09 km/h).^[3]

Operational history

In an interview in Sail Universe, two Aloha 8.2 owners described the design:

Fast and functional and a mighty vessel for her modest LOA ... built by hand, and the tale of her designer is one hell of a triumphant Canadian immigration story, coming to Canada with just $9 in his pocket. The story goes that Aloha Yachts are about integrity and heart...Handcrafted and made with love to be one of the finest racer/cruisers around, she’s decked out in top to bottom teak, and can turn on a dime. Not all 27’ sailboats are given a full wheel at the helm (most have tillers)...They say that the theoretical hull speed of an Aloha 8.2 is 6.32 knots, but we’ve recently got her well passed 8 without a flinch.^[9]

Variants

Aloha 27 under power

Aloha 27 showing cockpit dodger and bimini top

Aloha 27 with 150% genoa fitted. This vessel has the outboard motor option.

Aloha 26

This model was introduced in 1979, has a length overall of 26.50 ft (8.1 m) and a waterline length of 22.50 ft (6.9 m) and was soon renamed the Aloha 27.^[2][3]

Aloha 27

This model was the 26 renamed and was built in the same mould, with a length overall of 26.50 ft (8.1 m) and a waterline length of 22.50 ft (6.9 m).^[2][3]

Aloha 8.2

This model was renamed in 1980 when Canada adopted the metric system, has a length overall of 26.50 ft (8.1 m) and a waterline length of 22.50 ft (6.9 m).^[7][10]

Aloha 271

This model was introduced in 1987, has a length overall of 26.75 ft (8.2 m) and a waterline length of 22.50 ft (6.9 m).^[11][12]

See also

• List of sailing boat types

Similar sailboats

• C&C 27
• Cal 27
• Catalina 27
• Catalina 270
• CS 27
• Fantasia 27
• Hullmaster 27
• Mirage 27
• Tanzer 27

References

External links

• Media related to Aloha 27 at Wikimedia Commons