The Watkins 27P, also known as the W27P, is an American sailboat that was designed by naval architect Walter Scott and first built in 1981.[1][2][3][4]

Watkins 27P
Development
DesignerWalter Scott
LocationUnited States
Year1981
No. built7
Builder(s)Watkins Yachts
NameWatkins 27P
Boat
Displacement7,500 lb (3,402 kg)
Draft3.67 ft (1.12 m)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA27.00 ft (8.23 m)
LWL23.25 ft (7.09 m)
Beam10.00 ft (3.05 m)
Engine typeYanmar 15 hp (11 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeshoal-draft fin keel
Ballast3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
Rudder(s)skeg-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
Sails
SailplanMasthead sloop
Total sail area292 sq ft (27.1 m2)

The Watkins 27P design was developed from the commercially successful Watkins 27, by adding a pilothouse and making changes to the mast height and sail area.[1][4][5]

Production edit

The design was built by Watkins Yachts in Clearwater, Florida, United States. A total of seven examples were completed, with all constructed in 1981.[5][4][6][7]

Development edit

The boat was initiated as "one-off" custom design for a customer, using the Watkins 27 hull and deck as a basis. Once completed, the company decided to put the design into production to compete with Morgan Yachts and Pearson Yachts, which were also producing pilothouse yachts at that time.[7]

The prototype was used to create a mould for the pilothouse, the mast was then shortened, the boom raised to clear the pilothouse and the sailplan was adjusted accordingly.[7]

Design edit

The Watkins 27P is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of polyester resin-based fiberglass, with teak wood trim. Plywood coring is used in the structures of the cabin roof, the deck, seats and cockpit sole for additional stiffness. It has a masthead sloop rig with 6061-T6 aluminum spars, a raked stem, a vertical transom, a skeg-mounted rudder controlled by a wheel and a shoal-draft keel. It displaces 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) and carries 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) of ballast.[1][3][7]

The boat has a draft of 3.67 ft (1.12 m) with the standard shoal-draft keel fitted.[1][3][7][4]

The boat is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar 15 hp (11 kW) diesel engine. The fuel tank holds 20 U.S. gallons (76 L; 17 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 40 U.S. gallons (150 L; 33 imp gal).[5][3][4]

Sleeping accommodation is provided for five people and consists of a bow "V" berth, a main cabin settee berth and a double-sized quarter berth. The head is fully enclosed and located to port aft of the forward cabin. The galley is aft, on the starboard side and includes an icebox and a two-burner alcohol or gas-fired stove mounted on gimbals. Ventilation is provided by six opening ports. The main cabin has 74 in (188 cm) of standing headroom. All woodwork is teak, including the cabin accents, bulkheads and the cabinets, which are teak veneer over plywood. The cabin sole is a teak parquet design.[3]

The design has a hull speed of 6.46 kn (11.96 km/h).[4]

Operational history edit

The boat is supported by an active class club, the Watkins Owners.[8]

By 2008 it was reported that four 27Ps were still in existence.[7]

See also edit

Related development

Similar sailboats

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d McArthur, Bruce (2019). "Watkins 27P sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  2. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2019). "Walter Scott". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Watkins Owners Association (20 October 2006). "Watkins W27/W27P". watkinsowners.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Sea Time Tech, LLC (2022). "Watkins 27P". sailboat.guide. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c McArthur, Bruce (2019). "Watkins 27 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  6. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2019). "Watkins Yachts 1973 - 1989". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Watkins Owners Association (3 May 2008). "History of Watkins Yachts". watkinsowners.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  8. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Watkins Owners". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.