It is not unusual to see an older Catalina 27 meticulously upgraded with many of the changes that are standard on newer models. For this reason, more recent models are usually more desirable as used boats than earlier models.Īt the same time, Catalina 27 owners seem to be inveterate tinkerers, constantly changing and improving small details in the boat. Most of these are small, but as a rule they have represented a steady stream of improvements.
It is quite common for Frank Butler himself to return owners’ calls, making that owner a Catalina customer for life.īecause the Catalina 27 has been in production for so long, there have been numerous changes in the boats over the years. The Catalina factory, by contrast, has a pretty good record for solving customer complaints. Yet the owners keep coming back for more, and they love their boats. According to owners, Catalina dealers have what may be the worst track record in the business in providing warranty service. The flip side of the coin is that Catalinas are known as cheaply built boats, with lots of corners cut This is undoubtedly the largest production run of any 27′ sailboat in US history, and probably the biggest anywhere.
