Some Specs

Here's a copy of an original marketing brochure that the designer/builder, Louis M. Nagy gave me (click the image to enlarge):

Julianne has a different port settee and dining table configuration. Also, Julianne has a wing keel, saildrive, treadmaster non-skid instead of teak decks, and single cabin side port lights. Other than that, the illustration is a pretty good representation of the actual boat.








Here are some specs that I pulled from the survey, personal observation, and an original brochure that Lou provided:

Hull Construction: FRP
Rig: Sloop
LOA: 27' 3"
LWL: 23' 2"
Beam: 8' 5"
Displacement: 6400 Lbs (before keel modification)
Ballast: 2600 Lbs " "
Draft: 4' 5"

Aux. power: 9 H.P. Diesel (Yanmar 1GM10 single cylinder with SD20 Saildrive with 14x8 two blade fixed alum prop)... works great by the way!

Fuel: 25 Gals.
Water: 35 Gals. (two plastic tanks under settes)
Holding Tank: 8 Gals.
LPG (Safgas) 2-Burner Stove w/broiler

Sail Area: 350 Sq. Ft.
All lines led aft to cockpit
Main sail with two reef points
125% jib with Profurl roller furling
I=35.5'
J=11.5'
P=31.5'
E=8.75'

Two Barient 17 self-tailing primary winches
Two Barient 12 non-self tailing winches on cabin
Adjustable backstay, topping lift, out-haul, and spinnaker pole track

Ritchie Navigator compass on bulkhead
Standard Horizon SL10 Digital Speed Log
Standard Horizon DS10 Digital Depth Sounder
Autohelm ST-2000+ auto pilot

Great for swimming or diving

One of the things we really like about this boat is the unique transom design. It's solid and has a built in swim step. Although common today, this was a relatively advanced design back in 1987. This design appealed to us since we enjoy SCUBA diving around the Channel Islands. Here's a picture of the transom and modified rudder:

Rescuing a Matrix 27 Sailboat

Last Wednesday, 25 June 2008, we launched our 27' 1987 Matrix Marine sailboat from Channel Islands Boatyard where she had been dry docked since August. We bought this boat from Catalina Yacht Anchorage without ever seeing her in the water, knowing how she'd sail or whether the auxiliary diesel engine would start. The boat had been neglected for many months and it was a real gamble for us. Fortunately for us, the single cylinder 1GM Yanmar motor started right up, she didn't take on any water, and she sailed well during our initial seatrial!!!

Here's a link to some pictures that we took of her at the boatyard and in our new slip at Anacapa Isle Marina in Channel islands Harbor, CA USA.


This Matrix '27 was previously named "Avocet." We plan to re-name her "Julianne" following a proper re-naming protocol. She was built by a local Ventura county engineer named Lou Nagy back in 1987. We believe that she has always been located in Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors. Lou designed her to be a trailerable off-shore cruiser. She's a very well built boat with a solid hull, strong rigging with all controls led to the cockpit, and accommodations for five in the cabin. He said that this was the first Matrix 27 built. Lou made one other copy of this which was sold to Jim Hahn on the East coast of the US (see Comment 1).

The original owner of this boat thought that it had too much weather helm. Consequently, Lou modified it by adding a wing to the keel and enlarging the rudder. Here are pictures of modified the rudder and wing keel.

I decided to post this blog since I couldn't find any other information about this wonderful boat on the Internet. I recently met with Lou at his office and he provided me with a wealth of information on the Matrix 27. I'll post much of that information on this blog. Hopefully someone will find this to be of interest.