Orion 27

The Orion 27 is an American sailboat that was designed by Henry Mohrschladt as a cruiser and first built in 1979.^[1][2]

Orion 27

Development
Designer	Henry Mohrschladt
Location	United States
Year	1979
Builder(s)	Pacific Seacraft
Role	Cruiser
Name	Orion 27
Boat
Displacement	10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
Draft	4.00 ft (1.22 m)
Hull
Type	monohull
Construction	fiberglass
LOA	30.92 ft (9.42 m)
LWL	22.19 ft (6.76 m)
Beam	9.25 ft (2.82 m)
Engine type	inboard 15 hp (11 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board type	long keel
Ballast	3,200 lb (1,451 kg)
Rudder(s)	internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig
Rig type	cutter rig
I foretriangle height	36.75 ft (11.20 m)
J foretriangle base	13.75 ft (4.19 m)
P mainsail luff	31.00 ft (9.45 m)
E mainsail foot	12.25 ft (3.73 m)
Sails
Sailplan	cutter rigged sloop
Mainsail area	189.88 sq ft (17.640 m2)
Jib/genoa area	252.66 sq ft (23.473 m2)
Total sail area	442.53 sq ft (41.112 m2)
Orion 27-2 →

The Orion 27 design was developed into the Orion 27-2 in 1981.^[3]

Production

The design was built by Pacific Seacraft in the United States, from 1979 until 1981, but it is now out of production.^[1][4]

Design

The Orion 27 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with the decks having a plywood core, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop, cutter rig or yawl rig, a raked stem with a bowsprit, an angled transom, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed long keel. It displaces 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) and carries 3,200 lb (1,451 kg) of lead ballast.^[1][5]

The boat has a draft of 4.00 ft (1.22 m) with the standard keel and is fitted with an inboard diesel engine of 15 hp (11 kW) for docking and maneuvering.^[1]

There are two interior arrangements, designated "A" and "C". Both have sleeping accommodation for five people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and an aft cabin with a single berth on the port side. The "A" has a drop-down U-shaped dinette, while the "C" has a two bench dinette table, which allows a bigger head with a shower. The galley is located on the starboard side, just forward of the companionway ladder. The galley is equipped with a two-burner stove and a double sink.^[5]

Operational history

The boat is supported by an active class club, the Pacific Seacraft Orion 27 Club.^[6]

Operational history

A review in Blue Water Boats, described the design as, "beautiful, strong, and capable". The review went on to say, "unsurprisingly for a Mohrschladt design, the Orion 27 has conservative lines. Under the waterline is a long keel with a forefoot cutaway to improve nimbleness and reduce wetted area. The sections carry the tried and true wine-glass shape. Don’t expect record setting pace with this kind of shape; think strong, safe, and good manners for heaving-to in the rough."^[5]

See also

• List of sailing boat types