27' Davis and Oberg Downeast Downeast

Notes:

Electrical: (2) Batteries, Battery Parallel Switch, Interior Lights, Navigation Lights 

Mechanical: Automatic Bilge Pump, Bilge Blower, CO2 Fire Extinguisher, Fuel Filter, Hydraulic Wheel Steering

Deck Equipment: Delta Anchor with Chain and Rode, Danforth Anchor with Chain and Rode, (3) Fenders - (3) Dock Lines - (8) Life Jackets

Construction:

Hull: Hand laid fiberglass with ½” foam core

Deck & Cabin: Wood, foam core, fiberglass & epoxy composite

Buldheads: Marine plywood epoxy coated

Cockpit frame: Clear Douglas fir, fiberglass tab fused to hull

Engine Stringers: Closed cell foam core fiberglass laminate with steel plates embedded between laminates for securing mounts

Hull Stringers: Foam cored same as engine stringers

Spray Rails: Extruded PVC

Rub Rails: varnished mahogany with ½” stainless steel oval chafe rail

Mechanical:

½” stainless steel prop shaft, dripless stuffing box  

Teleflex Seastar hydraulic steering, Edson Wheel

Propeller: 19 X19 bronze 4 blade

Bronze thru-hulls, seacocks, strut, skeg, rudder, raw water strainer

HISTORY:

In 1984, Tom Oberg, then a partner in Davis and Oberg Boat Builders of Bristol, RI, adapted the features of a 1954 Fishers Island 24’ Bassboat to create a 34’ fast cruiser for a Connecticut client.

Conceived for use as a fast cruiser/sportfishing vessel, the design was not constrained by the load carrying needs of a commercial lobster/fishing design. Therefore, the expected power to push this hull to respectable cruising speeds would be substantially less.

When launched is the spring of 1985, their expectations we not disappointed. The Mercruiser 340 hp gas engine pushed the boat to a 20 knot cruise with a top speed of 30 knots.

Encouraged by these results, Tom wanted to build a fiberglass version of the original 24 ft bassboat for himself. Convinced by many that the 24 ft boat would be inadequate, he made a number of modifications and drew the lines for the Oberg 27.

In the summer of 1986, the Kiegecell cored hull for the first Oberg 27 was built. Over the next few years, the sanding and fairing of a one-off hull took place a little at a time, being a “spare time” project for himself and was finally completed in July 1994.

Originally fitted with a 275hp Chevrolet engine, she cruised at 18 knots using 5 gal per hr. She is 91% efficient at the propeller (only 9% slip and drag at cruising speed).

In addition, she is dry, stable and comfortable in nearly all seas with little wake.