2002 Nor’Sea 27 - US$64,000

Plume 2025
Plume is available for viewing in Brisbane Marina, California.

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Plume, a 2002 Nor’Sea 27, is among the final hulls built to Lyle Hess’s legendary pocket-cruiser design. Maintained in Bristol condition, with low engine hours and outfitted for offshore sailing, she is offered by her original owners with a custom-built 2009 Pacific trailer.

A Proven Pocket Cruiser

The Nor’Sea 27 was designed by Lyle Hess, who wanted a boat small enough to be trailerable, without any concession to seaworthiness. With legendary robustness, a long keel and shallow draft, proven bluewater pedigree, the Nor’Sea 27 is a true pocket cruiser offering comfort both at sea and at anchor. Plume is among the last hulls ever built, making her a rare find.

Craftsmanship and Build Story

Plume was built at the Nor’Sea Yachts boatshop in Ontario, California. We bought her as a Kit Boat #3, which included the hull, deck, main cabinetry, and standing rigging. In addition, we hired the factory carpenter for the complex work requiring true craftsmanship. We handled the remaining work, including painting, trimming, plumbing, electricity, and deck equipment. We spent many weekends down at the boatshop in Ontario to work on the boat while the kit was being built. That way we benefited from the boatshop’s tools and expertise. As a result, and as mentioned in a 2022 survey: “The quality of the interior and exterior finishes is on par with a factory-finished boat.”

Layout and Accommodations

Stepping aboard Plume, you are welcomed into a secure center cockpit, designed for safety and comfort. A dodger adds extra protection from the elements, while also supporting features that enhance life at anchor, including a cockpit table and a bimini with mosquito-net enclosure. A cockpit locker provides convenient storage for docking lines, while the cockpit itself offers direct access to both the main and aft cabins.

Unusual for a boat of this size, the main cabin boasts ample standing headroom. With a bright overhead and beautifully maintained teak woodwork, the space feels warm and inviting.

To starboard, the galley is well-equipped with a double sink (with both fresh- and salt-water pumps), a Wallas diesel two-burner stove that also serves as a powerful heater, a one-burner Origo gimbaled alcohol stove for cooking under way, a large icebox, a cutlery drawer, and abundant stowage.

To port, a head features an Air Head composting toilet, with shelves and lockers for toiletries, clothes, boots, and foul-weather gear, plus additional hooks for hanging wet gear. A full-length mirror completes the space. Forward of the head is a practical pantry locker. Further along the port side is a chart table with a navigation station, equipped with a 15″ display and custom low-power computer for cartography and AIS, as well as an SSB radio.

Amidships, the main cabin saloon is arranged with settees encircling a sliding table mounted on the compression post. When raised, the table creates a convivial dining space for three to four people, with a particularly cozy area forward of the table to sit back, relax, or play. When lowered, the table transforms the saloon into a spacious berth. In addition to shelves and ample stowage beneath and around the settees, a large locker is located forward in the saloon, providing direct access to the chain locker.

The aft cabin is fitted with a comfortable berth that can sleep up to two people. It offers stowage throughout, including two large compartments to port and starboard and water tanks below. The space is highly versatile, as the berth can be easily rolled away to transform the entire aft cabin into one extra-large storage compartment. Whatever the layout, Plume offers an exceptional volume of stowage, unmatched for a boat of her size and impressive even when compared to much larger yachts.

The engine compartment is accessible through four dedicated hatches, ensuring outstanding all-around access for maintenance. The fuel tank is built for durability, using heavy-gauge, high-grade aluminum and modern installation practices. The engine has been carefully maintained and remains in excellent condition, with only 936 hours of use.

On deck, Plume is well-equipped for offshore cruising, with a full sail inventory, a three-reef mainsail setup, and a masthead sloop rig optimized for shorthanded sailing. She carries robust self-steering and autopilot systems, solar panels (one fixed and one mobile), jacklines, and a liferaft, along with additional safety gear including an EPIRB and AIS. Quality hardware throughout includes Lewmar Ocean Series winches. Her anchoring system is comprehensive, with an exceptionally reliable 15 lb main anchor rigged on 120 ft of chain and 150 ft of line (270 ft total rode), complemented by a storm anchor and a stern anchor.

Refit

Starting in fall 2019, Plume underwent a comprehensive refit. Every element and system from bow to stern was inspected to identify anything in need of repair or replacement. Some of the key upgrades are noted under Inventory with their respective years.

Reason for Sale

We are selling Plume as we begin a new chapter with a different cruising program aboard a 40’ aluminum sailboat in France. Though it is hard to part with Plume, we look forward to meeting her next owners and watching them enjoy an exceptional boat ready for her next adventures.

Specifications

Measurements

Propulsion

Complete 2025 Inventory


More Information

More information on Plume can be found at plume.flupes.org.
A 2022 survey is available upon request.
More information on the Nor’Sea 27 can be found in: Sailing Magazine and SailboatData.

Contact

Plume is available for viewing at Brisbane Marina, California. If you’re interested, please contact us at plume@flupes.org and tell us a little about why you’d like to be her next skipper. The asking price reflects her condition and equipment. We’re looking for a buyer who recognizes and values her pedigree and care.