1977 Ericson 27

Step aboard and you’ll notice how solid everything feels underfoot—this isn’t a light, hollow hull, it’s a stiff, reassuring platform that rewards you when the breeze pipes up. The cockpit is deep enough to feel secure, yet compact so engine controls, sheets, and tiller are all within easy reach, making short-handed sailing genuinely manageable. Visibility from the helm is excellent, and the boat tracks straight without constant correction, so you can actually relax on those longer tacks. On deck, the side decks are wide for a 27-footer, making foredeck work and anchoring far less of a circus act. It’s the sort of boat that quietly forgives small mistakes and lets you grow into more ambitious sailing.

For local waters that can serve up everything from light afternoon zephyrs to choppy, breeze-on days, this design hits a sweet spot. The moderate displacement and fin keel give you enough bite to punch through short, confused chop without pounding, while still being nimble in tight fairways and busy mooring fields. The draft opens up access to shallower anchorages and tucked-away coves that deeper cruisers can’t reach, yet you still get respectable upwind performance on longer coastal stretches. For evenings on the hook, the compact but efficient interior works well as a floating cabin, and the simple systems keep maintenance realistic for an owner who actually wants to be out sailing, not tied to the dock.