Catalina 27

BoatVerdict market snapshot

What "time listed" is and is not. We count from the day the seller posted the ad to the sweep that found it gone. An ad can end because the boat sold, because the seller gave up, or because the classifieds site expired the post on its own schedule. So read 9 days as how long a 27 sits for sale, not as a time-to-sale. Nobody in this market can give you a real one: US used-boat sales are not publicly recorded. Ads that were already gone the first time we could see a whole regional board are left out of this figure, because we know they left but not when.

These are asking prices. No free or public source publishes US used-boat transaction prices, so nobody — us included — can honestly show you what these boats sold for. What we can show you is what 73 sellers are asking, which is the number you are actually negotiating against.

The BoatVerdict take

• BoatVerdict listing data

  Supply is national: we saw listings in 15 states. You can shop this model without flying somewhere, and you will not be the only boat on the market when you sell.

• BoatVerdict listing data

  Between the 1972 ($3,500 median) and the 1984 ($9,500 median) asking prices fall about 8% a year. The steepest part of that curve is behind any boat more than five years old, which is where the value sits.

• BoatVerdict inference

  Diesel power shows up in our sample for this model. Diesel keeps its value and its hours better than gas, but a bad one is a five-figure repair — survey and oil analysis are not optional on a diesel boat.

Each point is tagged with the evidence behind it. Nothing here is a claim we cannot trace back to a counted listing, a federal record, or a named analyst judgement.

Catalina 27 prices by model year

21 distinct boats, listed now or since taken down, re-posts counted once. Years with fewer than 3 boats show a count only. Asking prices, not sale prices.

What a used Catalina 27 is worth

We have seen 21 distinct Catalina 27 boats for sale between Jun 14, 2026 and Nov 14, 2026, model years 1972 to 1988, in 7 states. The median ask is $4,000 and half of all asks sit between $3,000 and $6,500. Asking prices fall about 3.5% for each year of age (16% over five years), measured on these 21 boats and steadied with the 3.9% rate we measure for the class.

What moves the price of a 27

Recent Catalina 27 asking prices

Catalina recalls and accident record

These numbers are for the builder, not this model. Check the specific hull with a HIN lookup for recalls and reported accidents.

Engines we actually see on the 27

• Marine diesel inboard (Yanmar / Cummins / Universal) 2 listings · 3% of our sample

  Conventional shaft-drive marine diesels (Yanmar and Cummins especially) are the most durable propulsion in pleasure boating — 5,000–10,000 hours is normal with maintenance. On sailboats, a repowered modern diesel replacing a legacy gas Atomic 4 adds significant value.

  Service reality: Judge on oil analysis, coolant condition, and service records over raw hours. Check the heat exchanger, mixing elbow (on the exhaust), and motor mounts.

  Full Marine diesel inboard (Yanmar / Cummins / Universal) reliability profile →

• Honda 4-stroke outboard 1 listing · 1% of our sample

  Among the most reliable outboards made — automotive-grade Honda 4-stroke engineering. Heavier than rivals and a smaller marine dealer network, but mechanically a top-tier, long-life choice.

  Service reality: Timing-belt models: verify replacement interval was honored. 100-hour service; confirm dealer access for the buyer's region.

  Full Honda 4-stroke outboard reliability profile →

• Yamaha 4-stroke outboard (F70–F300) 1 listing · 1% of our sample

  The benchmark for outboard reliability and resale. F150 and F300 routinely run 2,000+ hours with routine service. Top-tier buyer trust — a Yamaha-powered hull sells faster than the same boat on any other brand.

  Service reality: 100-hour service intervals; 10-year/1,000-hour anode and water-pump attention. Saltwater units: check the bus bar and starter solenoid behind the powerhead for corrosion.

  Full Yamaha 4-stroke outboard (F70–F300) reliability profile →

Catalina 27 specifications

Rows marked "our listing data" are measured from listings, not published by the builder, and will differ from a brochure. Rows without a source we can name are not shown at all.

What to inspect on a used Catalina 27

1. Marine diesel inboard (Yanmar / Cummins / Universal): Judge on oil analysis, coolant condition, and service records over raw hours. Check the heat exchanger, mixing elbow (on the exhaust), and motor mounts. Seen on 2 of the 73 27 listings we track.
2. Get the hour meter reading and divide by the boat's age. Above 300 hours a year is heavy use for a Marine diesel inboard (Yanmar / Cummins / Universal). Threshold from BoatVerdict's engine-family profile for Marine diesel inboard (Yanmar / Cummins / Universal).
3. Honda 4-stroke outboard: Timing-belt models: verify replacement interval was honored. 100-hour service; confirm dealer access for the buyer's region. Seen on 1 of the 73 27 listings we track.
4. Get the hour meter reading and divide by the boat's age. Above 150 hours a year is heavy use for a Honda 4-stroke outboard. Threshold from BoatVerdict's engine-family profile for Honda 4-stroke outboard.
5. Yamaha 4-stroke outboard (F70–F300): 100-hour service intervals; 10-year/1,000-hour anode and water-pump attention. Saltwater units: check the bus bar and starter solenoid behind the powerhead for corrosion. Seen on 1 of the 73 27 listings we track.
6. Get the hour meter reading and divide by the boat's age. Above 150 hours a year is heavy use for a Yamaha 4-stroke outboard (F70–F300). Threshold from BoatVerdict's engine-family profile for Yamaha 4-stroke outboard (F70–F300).
7. Assume saltwater service unless the seller can prove otherwise: pull the engine cowling and look at the powerhead, check trim-cylinder rams for pitting, and open the battery and fuse boxes for green corrosion. 91% of the listings we observed for this model are in coastal states.
8. On the older hulls, core moisture is the deal-breaker: sound the transom and the deck with a plastic mallet, and treat any soft or dull-sounding area as a survey-stopper rather than a bargaining chip. We observe listings back to 1972, so boats over 54 years old are actively traded in this model.

This list is specific to this model: analyst items for the hull, plus items driven by the engines and the regions we actually observe on 27 listings. It is not a generic pre-purchase checklist, and it does not replace a surveyor.

What a 27 costs to own

$4,750 – $14k per year

• 27 ft hull, the median observed length for this model
• Saltwater berth, based on where most listings we see are located (CA)
• Includes insurance, storage, routine service, fuel at moderate seasonal use, and a reserve for wear items
• Excludes loan payments, major engine replacement, and refit work

Where 27s are for sale

• CA 32
• WA 17
• TX 3
• RI 3
• FL 3
• MD 3
• MI 2
• PA 2
• NV 2
• CT 1

Counts of distinct boats we observed per state, from 73 listings in 31 metro areas. We publish the distribution, not the listings themselves.

What else buyers cross-shop

• Catalina 25 median ask $6,500 · 25 ft · 53 listings
• Catalina 250 median ask $9,000 · 25 ft · 26 listings
• Catalina 30 median ask $11,000 · 30 ft · 115 listings
• Catalina 30 Tall Rig median ask $12,500 · 30 ft · 41 listings
• Catalina 22 median ask $4,000 · 22 ft · 85 listings
• Catalina 36 Mkii median ask $69,000 · 36 ft · 30 listings

Chosen by measured similarity — same builder first, then comparable length — and limited to models whose own page meets our evidence bar. No paid placements, no filler links.