Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat was offered with three distinct keel configurations rather than a single fixed profile. A deep-iron keel gives the Aquila 27 a better righting moment than the shallow option, with draft ranging 5.41 to 5.71 feet under load anchor. The shallow-iron keel draws only 4.27 to 4.57 feet, letting the boat work both coastal and inland waters. A third fin-keel variant, at 5.64 to 5.94 feet, makes the boat more maneuverable but less directionally stable than a full-keel equivalent. With 2,094 pounds of iron ballast against a 5,732-pound displacement, the 37 percent ballast ratio beats 34 percent of comparable designs, and the 2.76 length-to-beam figure makes the hull roomier below than 82 percent of its peers.
Rig and Handling
The Aquila 27 carries a fractional rig rather than a masthead arrangement, and the specified sheet lengths call for 8.3-meter jib and genoa sheets on 10 mm line, a 20.7-meter mainsheet, and 18.2-meter spinnaker sheets. A 12-horsepower single engine is listed in the builder record, though an outboard of 5 to 6 hp—or 115 to 138 pounds of thrust if electric—is commonly hung for docking and close-quarters maneuvering. The theoretical hull speed is 6.5 knots, and the 202 displacement-length ratio classes the boat among moderate racers, with 66 percent of similar designs weighing more.
Accommodations
Below, the Aquila 27 is laid out with two cabins and six berths, a berth count that, paired with the beamy 9.84-foot width, supports weekending for a small crew. The 19-gallon water and 7-gallon fuel capacities are modest, consistent with the boat's racer-cruiser intent rather than long-haul liveaboard use.
Performance Envelope and Limits
The Motion Comfort Ratio of 17.1 leaves the Aquila 27 more comfortable than only 27 percent of similar sailboats, and the capsize screening value of 2.20 means the design would not be accepted for ocean races anchor. The immersion rate of about 799 pounds per inch and a wetted surface near 269 square feet are the sort of figures that explain why the boat accelerates readily but is not a heavy-weather passagemaker.
The Verdict
The Aquila 27 is a numerically well-defined Harlé design that trades offshore credentials for inland and coastal flexibility across its keel options, a roomy beamy hull for its length, and a light moderate-racer feel.
Pros
- Three keel options (deep, shallow, fin) tailor the boat to coastal, inland, or maneuverable use
- Beam-to-length ratio makes it roomier than 82 percent of comparable designs
- Fractional rig with documented sheet specs simplifies sail handling planning
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.20 excludes it from ocean racing
- Motion Comfort Ratio places it behind 73 percent of similar boats
- Shallow-keel draft still limits some truly thin cruising grounds
