Okay I'll step up and take a shot at this one though I am sure that any other person who has sailed an E27 would agree and be willing to stand behind my comments.

1) How many Antrim 27's have been built and how many have been built in the last year? The A27 doesn't even have a strong enough class to get 6 boats on the line and have a one-design rating.

2) Yes the A27 has a big assymetrical chute that can be fun at times in light to moderate conditions, but the E27 is just as much if not more fun when you start surfing.

3) The E27 performs better in all the wind ranges unlike the A27 which only performs well in the middle wind ranges. No genoa which makes it a snail upwind in light air. And too big of a main which makes it a bear upwind in the heavy stuff.

4) A "new" Antri/Ultimate 27 is more like 70K for a brand new boat with all the bells and whistles where and E27 is 55K. I don't see that as being less money, do you?

5) When the A27 can field more than 20 boats to the starting line (I don't think they have even made that many) then you can start talking about a fun one-design fleet. Though I hope the A27 gets there one day, it certainly is a long way from achieving such recognitions as the E27.

6) The fact that the price of a used E27 has remained so solid for over 20 years should be some sort of sign as to how great a boat it really is. Used boats are more like in the 18-23K range which is close to what they sold for brand new. The fact is that the boat is just a great all around boat and has a very strong class which makes it so desirable to potential buyers.

If you are looking for a strong one-design class to get into and have fun then the E27 is the boat for you. If you want something modern that you can go and hassle with the phrf guys, spend a fortune on sails, and replace the mast every couple of years, then an A27 might be the boat for you.

Actually, I do think the A27 is a great boat, it just isn't to the level of comparing to an E27. They are really in two dofferent classes and are bought for different reasons.

Just my two cents though.

Jason Crowson

:: Wouldn't an Ultimate Antrim 27 be a better 'new boat'
:: choice, available sooner, and cost a bit less?
::
:: I'm not trolling, just wondering if there are other
:: boats in that 26-30 foot and $50-60,000 range that
:: should be considered. While the E27 is a dandy boat -
:: and very reasonable at $15-20,000 for a good used one -
:: time, design, and technology have not stood still since
:: the mid 1980s.
::
:: What would you (directed at anyone who cares to repond)
:: choose?