Design and Construction
What distinguishes the Heavenly Twins at a glance is the tour de force of fitting two coachroofs separated by a central cockpit on hulls only 27 feet long. The general design leans on classic codes—canoe sterns paired with that central cockpit—giving the small multihull a traditional silhouette unusual among its contemporaries. Beneath the surface, the influence of James Wharram is hard to dismiss in the Heavenly Twins design, a lineage traceable in the hull forms even as the boat positioned itself apart from outright performance cats. In 1971 the Heavenly Twins 26 faced a few competitors in its country of origin, most memorably the Iroquois; but where the Iroquois clearly displayed a desire for performance, the Twins was defined as a minimalist adventurer, and in the end its true competitors proved to be monohulls rather than other catamarans.
Accommodations
British skippers looking for a large living space are seduced by this small multihull, and the layout explains why: the twin coachroofs create two distinct cabin volumes flanking the central cockpit, a configuration that maximizes usable interior room on a 27-foot hull. The boat's beam of 13.75 feet and displacement of 6,285 pounds support a roomy, stable platform, while 62 gallons of water capacity and 24 gallons of diesel reflect the pocket-cruiser intent. A capsize ratio of 2.98 and comfort ratio of 12.79 place it firmly in the coastal-and-modest-passage category rather than the offshore-racer class.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop carrying 380 square feet of sail area on a 21.5-foot waterline, the Heavenly Twins generates a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.85—modest, consistent with the minimalist-adventurer brief rather than the Iroquois's speed-focused temperament. The hull speed of 6.21 knots and a maximum draft of just 2.25 feet make the catamaran a sheltered-water and anchor-close cruiser, easy to perch in shallow coves that deeper monohull rivals cannot reach. The central cockpit between the coachroofs keeps the helm connected to both hulls' living spaces, a layout that rewards short-handed cruising.
Refits and Ownership
The little catamaran evolved over its production run, though the specific generations are not itemized. What is clear is that a well-restored and equipped Heavenly Twins makes an excellent pocket cruiser, a judgment that underscores how dependent the boat's virtues are on sympathetic updating of systems and structure after decades of service.
The Verdict
The Heavenly Twins is a singular pocket catamaran: a 27-year production record holder that traded outright speed for living space and simplicity, wrapping two cabins and a central cockpit into a shoal-draft hull that monohull-seeking Britons found irresistibly roomy. It is less a performance machine than a minimalist adventurer with classic lines and a Wharram-shadowed pedigree.
Pros
- Twenty-seven-year production run, a cruising-multihull record
- Two coachroofs and central cockpit deliver large living space for 27 feet
- Shallow 2.25-foot draft expands anchoring options
- Excellent pocket cruiser when well restored and equipped
Cons
- Minimalist adventurer brief means limited performance compared with contemporaries like the Iroquois
- Evolution across the long production run is undocumented in specifics
