Design and Construction
Solid fiberglass forms both hull and deck, with the iron ballast fixed inside a fin or centreboard keel arrangement. The builder offered the Defender 27 with different keel alternatives, and the most common of these is the fin keel, which period description credits with splendid manoeuvrability provides splendid manoeuvrability. A pivoting centreboard lifting keel was the other route, letting the boat shift between coastal and inland waters; with that appendage the draft sits at roughly 1.31 to 1.61 feet depending on load, while the fin-keel version draws about 4.13 to 4.43 feet. The wetted surface of the underwater body measures about 172 square feet, and the hull’s immersion rate runs near 544 pounds per inch, a figure that tells the owner how firmly she sits as gear and water load vary.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop the Defender 27 carries jib and genoa sheets of 26.2 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, a 65.6-foot mainsheet of the same diameter, and spinnaker sheets of 57.7 feet. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 5.8 knots, matching the 5.84-knot figure derived from her dimensions. The fin keel’s turning ease in close quarters, paired with the narrow beam, gives a boat that is quick to answer the helm rather than a sluggish barge, and the centreboard version extends that flexibility into shallow marinas and interior canals alike.
Accommodations
Below, the Defender 27 is fitted with two cabins and four berths. The lean hull that makes her narrow on deck also means the interior volume is modest compared with beamier rivals, yet the layout provides sleeping space for a small crew within that berth count.
The Verdict
The Defender 27 is a purpose-drawn small cruiser from a respected French design pair, offered in two keel formats that broaden where she can cruise. Her slender hull and solid construction are offset by limited beam and a small interior, but the choice between lifting centreboard and fin keel lets a buyer match the boat to the water she will mostly see.
Pros
- Two keel options, including a shallow-draft centreboard for inland and coastal use
- Fin keel described as highly manoeuvrable
- Narrow, easily driven hull with a 5.8-knot theoretical speed
Cons
- Slender beam limits interior volume versus most comparable designs
- Shallow-draft centreboard draws only 1.3–1.6 ft, restricting ballast-derived stability margins versus the fin version
