"rhys" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 8 Jan 2006 15:04:51 -0800, "Alan Gomes" wrote:

Not sure about the particular Newport 27 you sailed, but I used to own a
1984 and it had very good engine access. There was a hatch in the cockpit
sole, as well as complete access from the front (after removing the
companionway steps) and port side (through the very large lazarette).

A hatch in the cockpit sole would make all the difference. Having
worked extensively on Atomic 4s, you really want to get at 'em from
above.

The N27 I raced as crew on didn't have an A4 (some kind of two-stroke,
I think, with a single-lever throttle/gearshifter) and certainly
didn't have a cockpit hatch.

Decent boat, though, and it was an '84 as well, if I recall correctly.
Predictably, the owner had replaced a two by three foot chunk of deck
due to delamination/core rot, but he did a reasonably good job of
recycling the top skin.

As I understand it, the Newport 27 is a C&C 27 hull with a different
deck, and it weighed 5,500 lbs. compared to the C&C 27's 7,500 lbs.
They certainly carried a different PHRF-LO rating and the Newport was
slapped around trying to work to weather in any kind of wave action,
because she couldn't "punch" due to light-ish weight. She *would* surf
readily, however, in a broach reach or dead downwind, and going 10 or
11 knots in a smallish keelboat was fun....you learn to anticipate and
enjoy the "ready to surf" sound.

By contrast, I've surfed...briefly...only twice on my 33', 10,000 lb.
keelboat, and it took a hatful of wind to do even that.

R.

Actually, I think the boat weighs closer to 6300 lbs. Mine had a Universal
18 diesel and, as I mentioned, I had no complaints about access.

Yes, they really did sail well. Mine was in Long Beach and I had numerous
trips back from Catalina where the boat easily surfed most of the way home.
Never got her up to 10 or 11 knots, though! It's a nicely balanced boat with
good sailing characteristics. Capital Yachts only did a so-so job on these
boats in terms of built quality, but it was your proverbial "built to a
price" production boat. Mine held together OK and was in solid shape when I
sold her.

I noticed that my old one is currently for sale:
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...24&slim=quick&. I
see they list the displacement as 6,000#, but I think that's a bit low
because that's what the documentation states is for the outboard model.

Take care,
Alan Gomes