Design and Construction
The Bianca 27 is a fiberglass hull with an iron keel, and YACHT's used-boat test judged its build quality to be above average for the class. The yard's own record describes a solid fiberglass hull with a PVC-foam-cored deck, a layup typical of the era's Danish production. At 7,165 pounds displacement with 3,197 pounds of iron ballast, the boat carries a 44.6 percent ballast ratio and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.38, giving her a narrow, purposeful profile on a 20.3-foot waterline. The 4.58-foot draft suits a boat prioritized for seaworthiness over speed, and the capsize screening value of 1.66 together with a motion comfort ratio near 31 place her firmly in the stable, moderate-displacement cruiser camp rather than the lively racer end of the spectrum.
Rig and Handling
She is rigged as a masthead sloop with a working sail area of 320 square feet under main and jib, and the SA/D ratios of 14.1 on the reference sail and 16.7 with a 135 percent genoa describe a moderately canvased boat that will not be overpowered easily but is no light-air flyer. The theoretical hull speed sits at 6.0 knots, matching the 6.0-knot figure quoted for engine propulsion, so under either sail or the optional Bukh diesel the boat tops out at the same modest pace. Halyards run 22.9 meters at 8 mm diameter, sheets are 10 mm, and the 20.6-meter mainsheet reflects a straightforward deck plan built around manual control. The immersion rate of about 567 pounds per inch means she settles predictably with load, and the roughly 193-square-foot wetted surface is consistent with a full-keel cruiser of this size.
Accommodations
Below deck the Bianca 27 is a good cruising boat with plenty of space, a claim supported by the four-berth layout, a galley, a toilet facility, and 60 liters of fresh water capacity. The mahogany interior and above-average headroom give the cabin a period warmth that YACHT's reviewer characterized as immersion in the past of sailing. For a 27-footer of her generation the volume reads as generous rather than cramped, and the 16-gallon water and 10-gallon diesel capacities suit coastal and short offshore passages without pretension to long-range self-sufficiency.
Refits and Ownership
YACHT's test concluded that a refit is worthwhile, which for a boat now decades from the end of production means the sensible ownership path is renewal of systems rather than structural correction. The above-average original construction gives a sound basis, and the straightforward rigging sizes make piecemeal upgrades practical for an owner comfortable with period hardware.
The Verdict
The Bianca 27 is a seaworthy, well-built Danish cruiser with real cabin volume and a forgiving motion profile, best understood as a classic full-keeled coastal and moderate offshore companion rather than a performance boat.
Pros
- Above-average build quality in fiberglass and iron
- Plenty of below-deck space with four berths and a galley
- Stable, seaworthy character with a 1.66 capsize screen
- Worthwhile refit candidate with simple rigging
Cons
- Prioritizes seaworthiness over speed; hull speed capped at 6 knots
- Modest 10-gallon fuel and 16-gallon water capacity
- 4.58-foot draft limits shallow anchoring
