Stiletto 27

get a stiletto for the party cruiz and get an old 16-18' beachcat project for funzies...now's a good time to borrow money, get plenty!

I had a Stiletto 27 for 10 years...really good boat, light weight, raced it and cruised/camped with it. The only thing I wish would have been better was the pointing ability...it only has the center board through the deck. The earlier models before 1985/86 ? were constructed with aircraft epoxy...I had a 1983 Special Edition.

I just got a Stiletto 27 SE and love it.

I had 2 P18's that the Mrs said "I want to go out you better get a bigger boat"
So after researching what was out there like Seawinds etc I settled on the Stiletto.

Its a bit under powered but for a family fun boat that is a blast to sail/camp/ use as a swim platform etc it cannot be beat.

Look here for the for sale list.
http://stiletto.wildjibe.com/forsale

Cheers

Al

In high school, I worked at a Hobie shop and we began selling Stiletto's. The store owner took the staff out on the boat one day when it was really blowing. Because I was the lightest guy in the crowd (I weighed all of 170lbs at the time), I was voted to try and see if the boat could pull up a skier. It was really hard, given how slowly the boat picks up speed, but after a lot of failed attempts, I was finally able to get up on two skis. How many people do you know that have skied behind a sailboat without assistance? Whenever I see one of those boats, it always makes me smile.

Stilettos are fun. my sailing club got one that was donated to them. it was a fast and fun boat we had the one with the dagger boards in the hull and we flew a hull so the dagger boards come out and we hit 30mph!

So then for pointing which one should i look for the ones with the dagger boards in the hulls..

<a href=" http://galveston.craigslist.org/boa/2561058678.html
"> http://galveston.craigslist.org/boa/2561058678.html

<a href=" http://easternshore.craigslist.org/boa/2607751997.html
"> http://easternshore.craigslist.org/boa/2607751997.html

I looked at that stiletto 30
its VERY corroded and with the Stiletto 30 you need a special trailer to move it.
the boat was put away 5/6 years ago after its owner became sick and has not moved since.
It sits in the most saline piece of ocean outside of the red sea.

This video was made by a buddy of mine who went to the boat and looked at it.

http://vimeo.com/28070469

Cheers

Al

Edited by tahoeprindle18 on Sep 25, 2011 - 09:31 PM.

Go with the 27'...tahoeprindle18 is right about trailering the 30'.

For those that aren't familiar with the Stiletto boats and how they trailer there is a reprint of an old Yachting story about the 27 here.
http://www.thebeachcats.com/news/124/stiletto-27---25-years-later/

That is a nice read! thanks i do wish i could find a cheap one somewhere its crazy how expensive they still are after so long..

DamonLinkous wrote: For those that aren't familiar with the Stiletto boats and how they trailer there is a reprint of an old Yachting story about the 27 here.
http://www.thebeachcats.com/news/124/stiletto-27---25-years-later/

if you live near sarasota fl there is a nice stiletto named Cat 5 for around $25,000 i will see if i can find a ad for it.

Well I do not live there I am in Pittsburgh. And that is to much right now
I'm thinking if one needs fixed up or something. But my budget is below. 10 k. But thanks
for looking I might have to go back in looking for a hobie. Cat.

get a used f18 there very fun and very fast!! (25-35 knots about)

KennyB wrote: Go with the 27'...tahoeprindle18 is right about trailering the 30'.

30 looks great on paper if you dont plan on moving it.
But the appeal to me with the 27 is its portability and flexibility of places to sail.

You can buy a 27 for as little as 10K up to $25 for a GT tall rig.
Compare that to an F27 and they are still a great bargain.

Cheers

Al

soulofasailor wrote: That is a nice read! thanks i do wish i could find a cheap one somewhere its crazy how expensive they still are after so long..

[quote=DamonLinkous]For those that aren't familiar with the Stiletto boats and how they trailer there is a reprint of an old Yachting story about the 27 here.
http://www.thebeachcats.com/news/124/stiletto-27---25-years-later/

compared to a F boat they are bargins,

Look on the wild gybe site for the forsale list.
there are more boats on the east coast FYI.

very similar to the NZ 8.5mtr, (27'10") rule catamarans....but those are not easily trailered and cost quite a bit more...though they have a very good racing class in auckland...pity the stiletto didn't sell in large enough numbers for class racing

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts-sail-boats/moored-boats/auction-369568229.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts-sail-boats/moored-boats/auction-377749195.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts-sail-boats/moored-boats/auction-363623451.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKzoYju7H3k&feature=related

Edited by erice on Sep 27, 2011 - 05:10 AM.

tahoeprindle18 wrote:
You can buy a 27 for as little as 10K up to $25 for a GT tall rig.
Compare that to an F27 and they are still a great bargain.

Define "bargain." I speak from personal experience with both boats.

The F-27 has FAR more accommodation than does the Stiletto 27: F-27 has a built-in galley, head, and a double cabin aft a/w/a sleeping space in main cabin. F-27 points higher and sails faster (stock, that is) than the Stiletto 27. F-boats are a HELLUVA lot easier to trailer.

Stiletto 27 has no built-ins, and unless you rig a deck tent, the sleeping is frankly coffin-like in the hulls, and the ventilation sucks (rather, it doesn't suck IUTMM). The center daggerboard isn't particularly great for pointing. Additions of aftermarket sails and rigging will improve the Stiletto's performance, though. The Stiletto 23 is a better performer to weather with its in-hull daggerboards, but it has less space in the hulls of course.

____________________________________________

to the OP:

Look, if you're going to have four people all the time, don't even consider anything less than a Hobie 21 or a Hobie Sport Cruiser. Other options you might consider in your price range include the Farrier TRAMP trimarans, Edel Cats (not trailerable), MacGregor 36 cats, Wharram catamarans, older Gemini cats (not trailerable), F-24 MKI trimarans, Reynolds 21 cats.... there are lots of brands out there.

BTW, what's your experience level?

Well i have been around water\sailing all my life, but not everyday! I grew up on a Mirage 27 then later we got a Abbott 33, we use to race a lot and cruise for Hours ! like 6 hours or more at a time! We would go to beaches but would have to anchor out in 6 feet of water, I hated that! The Mirage had a dagger board i remember that being a pain.. to pull up. this was all in a lake in Atlanta, now i am up in the north and Lake Erie is my water! I have raced on F27, cruised on a F24, and F28... I love how people hate it because of the storms it scares some.. I have been sailing and in storms and all kinds of weather so I am thinking at least 20 years of sailing. I recently got my 6 pack license.. but havent used it yet!

tami wrote: [quote=tahoeprindle18]
You can buy a 27 for as little as 10K up to $25 for a GT tall rig.
Compare that to an F27 and they are still a great bargain.

stiletto 27 The center daggerboard isn't particularly great for pointing.

Some have them on the sides

Edited by optikid on Sep 27, 2011 - 03:15 PM.

optikid wrote:
Some have them on the sides

Please reread my post, in which I mention the Stiletto _23_ which has daggers in the hull.

Actually, the board on the 27 is a centerboard IIRC, it pivots, not drops. I have seen a couple of customized Stiletto 27 which have hull daggers but that isn't a stock config. Here is a VERY customized S27, in fact the same people who did my boat have this one as their latest project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXFlbE8Afhw&feature=youtu.be

tami wrote: [quote=tahoeprindle18]
You can buy a 27 for as little as 10K up to $25 for a GT tall rig.
Compare that to an F27 and they are still a great bargain.

Define "bargain." I speak from personal experience with both boats.

The F-27 has FAR more accommodation than does the Stiletto 27: F-27 has a built-in galley, head, and a double cabin aft a/w/a sleeping space in main cabin. F-27 points higher and sails faster (stock, that is) than the Stiletto 27. F-boats are a HELLUVA lot easier to trailer.

Stiletto 27 has no built-ins, and unless you rig a deck tent, the sleeping is frankly coffin-like in the hulls, and the ventilation sucks (rather, it doesn't suck IUTMM). The center daggerboard isn't particularly great for pointing. Additions of aftermarket sails and rigging will improve the Stiletto's performance, though. The Stiletto 23 is a better performer to weather with its in-hull daggerboards, but it has less space in the hulls of course.

I have a season of F27 time just to set the stage here...

I bought my Stiletto 27 SE for $13K with a Honda 15 4 stroke and a great sail wardrobe and the boat is in great condition.

For how I use the boat (day sailing/weekend camping) it is way better than the cramped cockpit of an F boat.
you cannot get 6 people sitting in an F27 cockpit without being super cramped.
Not to mention the deck area on the stiletto dwarfs the F boats.

It sails as fast but not as high as a F27.

I have in my SE a head and galley as well as fitted bunks with lumar deck hatches that provide plenty of air in the hulls when sleeping.

Comparing price to an F27 I could buy 2 Stiletto's.

So bottom line when it comes to budget and performance the S27 is hard to compare to anything else out there.

Cheers

Al

Yes i know all about the F-boats that is where i want to be someday, they are pricey but hey keep there value too! I am just wanting something i can pull for now and have friends on nothing to exspensive i can do repairs i am very handy too so if i found something that needs work that would be awesome right now too.. What ever it is i get it needs to be beachable!

For what its worth, back in June I ran across one on a trailer outside a barn on the SE side of Lake Wawasee in Indiana. Here's a quick pic.

Had never heard of a Stilletto a the time, so it was quite a novelty. Couldn't take a close look as the lot was fenced in.

There is a 23 on craigslist in NJ for $7kish if your willing to compromise.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/2579892024.html

Edited by bacho on Oct 02, 2011 - 03:35 PM.

tami wrote: [quote=optikid]
Some have them on the sides

Please reread my post, in which I mention the Stiletto _23_ which has daggers in the hull.

some 27 have in on the sides.
my sailing club owns it. also notice the one in the background.

Edited by optikid on Oct 02, 2011 - 04:39 PM.

tami wrote: [quote=optikid]
Some have them on the sides

Please reread my post, in which I mention the Stiletto _23_ which has daggers in the hull.

Actually, the board on the 27 is a centerboard IIRC, it pivots, not drops. I have seen a couple of customized Stiletto 27 which have hull daggers but that isn't a stock config. Here is a VERY customized S27, in fact the same people who did my boat have this one as their latest project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXFlbE8Afhw&feature=youtu.be

Wow that is one sweet ride. I want one like that.

Whats the history of a Prindle cat, are they fast to ? some look ugly tho? What are your opinons on them? I do like being higher off the water tho too..