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

Aloha 27
Aloha 27 with 8.2 sails
Development
DesignerRobert Perry
LocationCanada
Year1979
No. built188
Builder(s)Ouyang Boat Works
NameAloha 27
Boat
Displacement5,200 lb (2,359 kg)
Draft4.33 ft (1.32 m)
Air draft40.00 ft (12.19 m)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionFibreglass
LOA26.75 ft (8.15 m)
LWL22.50 ft (6.86 m)
Beam9.50 ft (2.90 m)
Engine typeInboard BMW, Volvo or Westerbeke diesel engine or an outboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board typefin keel
Ballast2,000 lb (907 kg)
Rudder(s)skeg
Rig
GeneralFractional rigged sloop
I foretriangle height30.00 ft (9.14 m)
J foretriangle base10.75 ft (3.28 m)
P mainsail luff31.75 ft (9.68 m)
E mainsail foot10.25 ft (3.12 m) 1979-1981 (11.25 ft (3.43 m) post-1981 )
Mast length33.00 ft (10.06 m)
Sails
Mainsail area178.59 sq ft (16.592 m2)
Jib/genoa area161.25 sq ft (14.981 m2)
Total sail area339.84 sq ft (31.572 m2)
Racing
PHRF207 (average)

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.

The Aloha 27 should not be confused with the slightly larger Aloa 27 which was designed by Frans Maas and built in France by Aloa Marine, starting in 1976.[8]

Production edit

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]

Design edit

 
Aloha 27

The Aloha 27 series are all small recreational keelboats, built predominantly of fibreglass, 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][9]

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.[9]

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 edit

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.[10]

Variants edit

 
Aloha 27 showing cockpit dodger and bimini top
 
Aloha 27 with 150% genoa fitted. This vessel has the outboard motor option.
 
Aloha 8.2
 
Aloha 8.2
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 26.75 ft (8.2 m) and a waterline length of 22.19 ft (6.8 m).[7][11]
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).[12][13]

See also edit

Similar sailboats

References edit

  1. ^ Perry, Robert. "Production Boats". Robert H. Perry Yacht Designers. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Browning, Randy (2017). "Aloha 27 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e InterVisionSoft LLC (2017). "Sailboat Specifications for Aloha 27". Sailing Joy. Retrieved 6 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Browning, Randy (2017). "Robert Perry". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e McGoldrick, Michael. "Aloha 27". sailquest.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Aloha Owners Association (2017). "Specifications Aloha 27 (8.2)". alohaowners.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. ^ a b Browning, Randy (2017). "Aloha 8.2 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  8. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Aloa 27 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  9. ^ a b Aloha Yachts. "Introducing the Aloha 26". Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Two newbie Sailors… ready to Voyage with their Aloha 8.2 from Canada to the Caribbean". Sail Universe. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  11. ^ InterVisionSoft LLC (2017). "Sailboat Specifications for Aloha 8.2". Sailing Joy. Retrieved 6 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Browning, Randy (2017). "Aloha 271 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  13. ^ InterVisionSoft LLC (2017). "Sailboat Specifications for Aloha 271". Sailing Joy. Retrieved 6 June 2017.[permanent dead link]

External links edit