Design and Construction
Jeanneau built the Fantasia 27 in fiberglass. Harlé’s finely raked bow lines carry aft to a broad stern section, giving the hull both form and a wide midship plan.
The yard offered three keel alternatives: an iron fin keel, a bilge keel, and an iron stub/centreboard keel. Draft varies considerably among them. The fin-keel version draws about 4.92 to 5.22 feet, while the bilge-keel model draws 3.54 to 3.84 feet. With the centreboard raised, the stub/centreboard version draws as little as 2.59 to 2.89 feet. Depending on the version, the same model could serve as either a deep-draft racer or a shallow-creek cruiser.
The bottom’s wetted surface is about 236 square feet, and the immersion rate is about 706 pounds per inch. With a displacement-length ratio of 217, those figures place the Fantasia 27 among moderate racers in displacement-length terms.
Rig, Handling, and Power
The Fantasia 27 carries a masthead sloop rig, which keeps the center of effort manageable for a small family cruiser. Its ballast ratio is 34 percent, and its length-beam ratio is 2.69. This makes it a comparatively light, beamy hull whose designer relied on balance rather than brute ballast.
The capsize screening value is 2.23, which would exclude the boat from ocean racing under that rule. Its Motion Comfort Ratio is 16.5 to 16.6.
Under power, the Fantasia 27 is fitted with a Yanmar 1GM10 diesel driving a shaft. Period test data records a speed of 7.0 knots with that engine, just above the theoretical displacement-hull maximum of 6.2 knots for the boat’s length.
Accommodations
Below decks, the Fantasia 27 has a two-cabin layout. The aft cabin contains a double berth and sits symmetrically with the head, leaving the midship and forward sections open for an L-shaped saloon and a forward double berth. The aft cabin provides the only enclosed private sleeping space.
Teak woodwork and trim add to the light, remarkably commodious feel below, while the interior is finished in mahogany, as were many production boats of the period. Headroom is 5 feet 11 inches throughout, which review copy described as above average for the class.
Large ports and hatches help keep the cabin bright. These include a round port in the aft cabin and a forward roof screen. A toilet facility is fitted, and the stated maximum capacity is five people. Fuel capacity is 7 gallons.
Verdict
The Fantasia 27 is a Harlé design built around balance and a flexible choice of keels rather than heavy ballast or complex construction. Its broad stern and efficient hull provide substantial interior volume for a 27-footer, while the choice of fin, bilge, or centreboard keels lets a buyer match the boat’s draft to local cruising grounds.
It is light on ballast for offshore work, and its limited tankage and berth privacy work against long, self-sufficient voyages. As a manageable coastal cruiser with an aft cabin, however, it remains a coherent package.
Pros
- Rarely efficient Harlé hull with standout balance
- Three keel options spanning 2.6 to 5.2 feet of draft
- Aft double cabin and head, with 5'11" headroom throughout
- Broad stern and large ports create a commodious, bright interior
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.23 excludes it from ocean racing under that rule
- 34% ballast ratio and 7-gallon fuel capacity limit offshore range
- Only the aft cabin provides enclosed private sleeping space
