The Rod Johnstone-designed J/27 was first introduced in 1983, and 211 hulls were built by 1992. This is one of the more affordable boats on our list, with an average price of $19,000. Racing it requires a crew of five to seven.

The J/27 sails to its rating best in light or heavy air and has some trouble competing in medium air, mostly because of the shorter waterline length. Some boats need simple upgrades to get ready for racing, such as new halyards, adjustable leads, and a new backstay. This is likely to cost approximately $2,500. A new suit of sails for a J/27 will be $7,500.

J/27
http://www.j27.org
Typical monthly costs: $756
Annual budget range: $1,000 to $12,000
PHRF 17 to 129
LOA 27’6"
LWL 23’
Beam 8’6"
Draft 4’11"
Disp. 3,800 lbs
SA 364 sq. ft.

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