HUGHES-COLUMBIA 27
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 27 ft |
| LWL | 21.25 ft |
| Beam | 9.33 ft |
| Draft | 4 ft |
| Displacement | 7,300 lb |
| Ballast | 3,100.3 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 6.2 kn |
About the HUGHES-COLUMBIA 27
Thanks to Jack Gutter for making the connection to the COLUMBIA 8.3. Not to be confused with a much earlier HUGHES 27 (1968?) designed by Howard Hughes.
The Hughes-Columbia 27 is a robust, heavy-displacement cruising sloop designed by Alan Payne and built by Hughes Boatworks Ltd. in Canada between 1978 and 1980. With a displacement of 7300.0 lb and a ballast of 3100.3 lb, this vessel prioritizes stability and comfort over raw speed, resulting in a Comfort ratio of 25.07 and a low Capsize ratio of 1.93.
- Best for:
- This boat is ideally suited for coastal cruisers and those seeking a stable, comfortable platform for short-to-medium offshore passages, particularly those who value a quiet, solid ride over high-performance racing metrics.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a D/L ratio of 339.62 and a low Capsize ratio of 1.93, the Hughes-Columbia 27 is well-suited for protected coastal and bay cruising, though its 27.0 ft LOA and moderate displacement suggest it is best reserved for shorter offshore passages rather than extended bluewater voyaging.
- Comparables:
- Comparable vessels include the Cal 2-27 and the Pearson 28, as they share similar production eras, displacement characteristics, and a focus on safe, family-oriented cruising with fin keels and masthead sloop rigs.
Performance
Estimated Value
Low ConfidenceAsking price by model year
5 listings · boat years 1981–1982 · median $14,000
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 27ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the HUGHES-COLUMBIA 27yet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a HUGHES-COLUMBIA 27? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
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Used sails that fit the HUGHES-COLUMBIA 27
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