Design and Construction
The hull and deck are both solid fiberglass. Jeanneau offered three keel configurations, giving buyers more choice than a single fixed profile.
The deep iron keel provides better righting moment than the shallow option and draws 5.41 to 5.71 feet under load. The shallow iron keel draws 4.27 to 4.57 feet, allowing the boat to work in both coastal and inland waters. A third fin-keel version draws 5.64 to 5.94 feet and is more maneuverable, though less directionally stable than a full-keel equivalent. These three keel configurations and their draft ranges give the Aquila 27 a relatively broad operating range.
The boat carries 2,094 pounds of iron ballast on a displacement of 5,732 pounds. Its 37 percent ballast ratio is higher than that of 34 percent of comparable designs. A length-to-beam figure of 2.76 makes the hull roomier below than 82 percent of its peers.
Rig, Auxiliary Power, and Handling
The Aquila 27 has a fractional rig rather than a masthead arrangement. Its specified running-rigging lengths include 8.3-meter jib and genoa sheets in 10 mm line, a 20.7-meter mainsheet, and 18.2-meter spinnaker sheets.
The builder record lists a 12-horsepower single engine. However, an outboard producing 5 to 6 hp—or 115 to 138 pounds of thrust in an electric installation—is commonly hung for docking and close-quarters maneuvering.
Theoretical hull speed is 6.5 knots. A displacement-length ratio of 202 places the Aquila 27 among moderate racers, with 66 percent of similar designs weighing more.
Accommodations and Capacities
Below, the Aquila 27 has two cabins and six berths. That berth count, combined with its beamy 9.84-foot width, supports weekending for a small crew.
Tankage is modest: 19 gallons of water and 7 gallons of fuel. Those capacities suit the boat’s racer-cruiser purpose better than long-term liveaboard use.
Performance Envelope and Limits
The Aquila 27’s Motion Comfort Ratio is 17.1, making it more comfortable than only 27 percent of similar sailboats. Its capsize screening value of 2.20 means the design would not be accepted for ocean races.
An immersion rate of about 799 pounds per inch and a wetted surface near 269 square feet help explain why the boat accelerates readily but isn’t a heavy-weather passagemaker.
Verdict
The Aquila 27 is a clearly defined Harlé design that trades offshore credentials for a light, moderate-racer feel and the inland and coastal flexibility offered by its three keel options. Its broad beam also gives it useful interior room for its length.
Pros
- Three keel options—deep, shallow, and fin—suit coastal, inland, or more maneuverable use
- Its length-to-beam figure makes it roomier than 82 percent of comparable designs
- Fractional rig and documented sheet specifications simplify sail-handling planning
Cons
- A capsize screening value of 2.20 excludes it from ocean racing
- Its Motion Comfort Ratio places it behind 73 percent of similar boats
- Even the shallow-keel draft limits access to some truly thin cruising grounds
