Com-Pac Has Changed Hardware, but the Original Layout and Ride Remain Intact

Driven by consumer demands, plenty of efforts have been made to put a big boat in a small package. Most end up downright ugly examples of the larger vessels they want to emulate. Stylistically, the Com-Pac 27, from Hutchins Co., falls somewhere between traditional and contemporary and seems to have avoided the pitfalls of other misguided attempts. While the look may not please everyone, the design is well proportioned and without exaggerated features that result in a cartoon-like appearance.

The Com-Pac 27 was introduced in 1986 and remains in production today. Bob Johnson, founder and chief designer of Island Packet Yachts, designed the 27 for Hutchins, and the similarities to Island Packet's 27-footer are apparent. Both boats have an identical waterline length of 24 feet, 3 inches, though the Com-Pac is a foot narrower, 9 inches longer on deck and 2,000 pounds lighter.

The Com-Pac 27 has a nearly three-foot-long bowsprit, resulting in an overall length of 29 feet and 7 inches. This is important because most marine facilities will consider the boat a 30-footer for storage and slips and charge accordingly.

HULL CONSTRUCTION

Hutchins uses a subcontractor to mold the hulls and decks of the Com-Pac 27. Assembly and systems installations are completed at Hutchins' facility in Clearwater, Florida. Hulls are made of solid-fiberglass laminate, while the decks and superstructure use a foam core in areas that require added stiffness. In 1994, Hutchins began using vinylester resin in the outer layers of the hull to aid in preventing osmotic blistering. The deck and hull are joined on an outward flange with mechanical fasteners and then finished with a vinyl rubrail over the flange. The attachment is reinforced on the inside with a layer of fiberglass cloth and resin.

Hutchins makes limited use of molded fiberglass interior liners, and for the most part, plywood frames and bulkheads tabbed in place with fiberglass cloth and resin strengthen the hull. Access for inspection, service and repair is better than on most production boats.

The quality of construction and finish is above average, though not without some common problems. One weak point is the spade rudder, which is built with a foam core and fiberglass outer skins. Most Com-Pac 27s more than 10 years old will have delaminated rudders if owners didn't take some remedial action. The good news is that replacement rudders are available from Hutchins at reasonable prices. Ordering and installing a new rudder is usually less expensive than repairing the old one. On pre-1994 models, some degree of osmotic blistering is typical below the waterline, a condition not unique to the Com-Pac 27.

The deck arrangement is well laid out. Without an anchor locker forward, the bowsprit provides a convenient location for anchor storage. Side decks are wide, and rigging shrouds are led to chain plates on the hull side for unobstructed movement on deck. Two large deck hatches and six or eight (depending on year) opening ports are standard equipment. The cockpit is nearly seven feet long, wheel steering is standard, and two huge cockpit seat lockers provide outstanding storage and access.

HARDWARE CHANGES

Interior accommodations are impressive for a 27-footer. There are port and starboard settees in the main salon, followed by a large V-berth forward. A full bulkhead from the centerline to the port hull side and a partial starboard bulkhead separate the two areas. This arrangement is less private than a doorway, but opens up the interior and makes for a roomier appearance. A well-equipped galley is aft and to port, though the icebox is poorly insulated and next to the engine, which cuts its efficiency even more. A fully enclosed head is aft to starboard and includes a shower. The standard 50-gallon freshwater supply is well above average for a boat this size, and pressurized water is standard equipment.

The Com-Pac 27/2 has bronze ports, bronze deck hardware and plenty of teak. The Com-Pac 27/3 came out in 2003 with all stainless steel ports and cleats and a sliding forward cabin door instead of the canvas curtain, says Gerry Hutchins, who now runs the company with his brother, Richard. They took over the family business from their father. But the third generation of the boat retains the original layout, sail plan, tooling and specifications, Hutchins says.

From 1986 until 1992, a 10-horsepower Universal Marine diesel engine was standard equipment. This engine is suitable for most conditions but insufficient when operating in strong winds or choppy seas. In 1993, auxiliary power was upgraded to the 18-horsepower Westerbeke diesel engine, a considerable improvement. The 13-gallon fuel capacity is marginal and limits cruising under power to less than 100 miles. Access for service and maintenance of the machinery, though, is excellent.

The Com-Pac 27 won't be mistaken for a "racer cruiser," but most owners are satisfied with her sailing performance, particularly when not sailing close to the wind. The sail area/displacement ratio is a modest 15.4, although the standard 135-percent roller-furling genoa adds needed sail area. The outboard rigging shrouds and genoa track do not allow for close sheeting angles, and windward performance therefore suffers.

New Com-Pac 27s are bit expensive for a boat of this size and type, but used models are affordable and offer well above-average quality and cruising comfort for sailors who rank these qualities high.

Jack Hornor, NA is the principal surveyor and senior designer for the Annapolis-based Marine Survey & Design Co. Hornor writes for BoatU.S. Magazine and other marine publications.

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