Design and Construction
The hull and deck are solid fiberglass. Displacement is 4,409 pounds, including 1,874 pounds of iron ballast fixed inside a fin or centreboard keel arrangement.
The Defender 27 was offered with different keel alternatives, the most common being the fin keel. A period description says this version provides splendid manoeuvrability. It draws about 4.13 to 4.43 feet.
The other route was a pivoting centreboard lifting keel, letting the boat move between coastal and inland waters. Depending on load, this version draws roughly 1.31 to 1.61 feet.
The underwater body has about 172 square feet of wetted surface. The hull’s immersion rate is approximately 544 pounds per inch, indicating how firmly the boat settles as gear and water load change.
Rig and Handling
The masthead-sloop sail plan carries 243 square feet of canvas. Running-rigging dimensions include 26.2-foot jib and genoa sheets at 3/8-inch diameter, a 65.6-foot mainsheet of the same diameter, and 57.7-foot spinnaker sheets.
The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 5.8 knots, closely matching the 5.84-knot figure derived from her dimensions. The fin keel’s turning ease in close quarters, combined with the narrow beam, suggests a boat that answers the helm quickly rather than feeling like a sluggish barge. The centreboard version extends that flexibility to shallow marinas and interior canals.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Defender 27 has two cabins and four berths. The same lean hull that keeps her narrow on deck also limits interior volume compared with beamier rivals. Even so, the layout provides sleeping space for a small crew within that four-berth capacity.
The Verdict
The Defender 27 is a purpose-designed small cruiser from a respected French design team. Its two keel configurations broaden the range of waters in which it can cruise. The slender hull and solid construction come with limited beam and modest interior volume, but buyers can choose between the lifting centreboard and fin keel according to where the boat will spend most of its time.
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 theoretical speed of 5.8 knots
Cons
- Slender beam limits interior volume compared with most similar designs
- The shallow-draft centreboard draws only 1.3–1.6 ft, restricting ballast-derived stability margins compared with the fin-keel version
