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Pacific Seacraft Orion 27

1979 — 1993
Designer
Henry Morschadt
Builder
Pacific Seacraft
Association
Pacific Seacraft Orion 27 Club
# Built
?
Hull
Monohull
Keel
Long
Rudder
?
Construction
FG

Dimensions

Length Overall
30 10 / 9.4 m
Length On Deck
27 3 / 8.3 m
Waterline Length
22 2 / 6.8 m
Beam
9 3 / 2.8 m
Draft
4 0 / 1.2 m
Displacement
10,000 lb / 4,536 kg
Ballast
3,500 lb / 1,587 kg (Lead)
Drawing of Pacific Seacraft Orion 27
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Rig and Sails

Type
Cutter
Reported Sail Area
512′² / 47.6 m²
Total Sail Area
443′² / 41.1 m²
Mainsail
Sail Area
190′² / 17.6 m²
P
31 0 / 9.5 m
E
12 2 / 3.7 m
Air Draft
40 10 / 12.5 m
Foresail
Sail Area
253′² / 23.5 m²
I
36 8 / 11.2 m
J
13 8 / 4.2 m
Forestay Length
39 2 / 12 m

Auxilary Power

Make
Yanmar
Model
2GM
HP
13
Fuel Type
Diesel
Fuel Capacity
20 gal / 75 l

Accomodations

Water Capacity
75 gal / 284 l
Holding Tank Capacity
18 gal / 68 l
Headroom
6 2 / 1.9 m
Cabins
?

Calculations

Hull Speed
6.0 kn
Classic: 6.31 kn

Hull Speed

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Formula

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

A more accurate formula devised by Dave Gerr in The Propeller Handbook replaces the Speed/Length ratio constant of 1.34 with a calculation based on the Displacement/Length ratio.

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio.311
Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

5.99 knots
Classic formula: 6.31 knots
Sail Area/Displacement
17.7
16-20: good performance

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

Formula

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64)2/3

  • SA: Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
  • D: Displacement in pounds.
17.65
<16: under powered
16-20: good performance
>20: high performance
Ballast/Displacement
35.0
<40: less stiff, less powerful

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Formula

Ballast / Displacement * 100

34.99
<40: less stiff, less powerful
>40: stiffer, more powerful
Displacement/Length
409.2
>350: ultraheavy

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

Formula

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
  • LWL: Waterline length in feet
409.23
<100: ultralight
100-200: light
200-300: moderate
300-400: heavy
>400: very heavy
Comfort Ratio
32.0
30-40: moderate bluewater cruising boat

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Formula

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam1.33)

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
  • LWL: Waterline length in feet
  • LOA: Length overall in feet
  • Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
31.97
<20: lightweight racing boat
20-30: coastal cruiser
30-40: moderate bluewater cruising boat
40-50: heavy bluewater boat
>50: extremely heavy bluewater boat
Capsize Screening
1.7
<2.0: better suited for ocean passages

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

Formula

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

  • Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
1.72
<2: better suited for ocean passages
>2: better suited for coastal cruising

Notes

From BlueWaterBoats.org:

Beautiful, strong, and capable the Orion 27, introduced in 1979, was one of the earlier boats to come from the well trusted Pacific Seacraft stable. Pacific Seacraft built its reputation on robust boats constructed with attention to detail. It was notable for being the last design by Henry Mohrschladt, who was one of the two original founders of Pacific Seacraft. Built in California, most examples to this day can be found on the West Coast and at least one has circumnavigated. Brec Morgan set out in Otter in 1998, visiting over 50 countries before completing his odyssey in 2003.

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. There’s a 6’1″ bowsprit to help carry her canvas and the rig came in 3 variations; sloop, yawl, and cutter. The cutter rig, best suited to longer distance sailing has a self tending staysail.

Layout and Variations

In addition to the three rig options, Pacific Seacraft offered two cabin layouts, and steering in tiller or wheel; note most examples are found with wheel steering. In 1981 an improved MkII version was introduced with a longer coachroof, two deck hatches, and an extra set of portlights.

The two layouts were named “A” and “C”. Both have a double v-berth, a hanging locker, a head, and a quarter-berth. A shower located in the head was an optional extra as was a pressurized water system for it.

The A-layout is more common and has a relatively roomy U-shaped dinette to port, lowering the dinette table converts the area into a double berth. On the starboard side is the galley with a nav-station further aft.

The C-layout was designed for longer cruises. Here the U-shaped dinette is sacrificed to gain room for a larger head and shower combo as well as providing space for a larger v-berth and more stowage in the forward sections. At the bottom of the companionway is a wet locker.

Construction

Through the years the boat has proven to be of sturdy construction. The hull is of hand-laid fiberglass and the decks are of glass cored with plywood. The hull to deck join is a double-flange bedded in polyurethane adhesive, thru-bolted with stainless bolts. This forms the bulwarks which encloses the deck and is capped in teak.

Links, References and Further Reading

» Orion 27 Owners Yahoo Group
» A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America by Richard M. Sherwoo, p192

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