Parker lengthened the coachroof to improve headroom and renamed the boat the Parker 27. Then, in 1990, the design was revised with completely new moulds. It remained close to the original Super Seal concept and emerged as the Parker 275, which stayed in production through 1998. Throughout the family, the guiding idea was the same: a fast, shallow-draught yacht that could be beached easily yet still sleep five.
Design and Construction
The Parker 27 had 5ft 10in of headroom and a minimum draught of 1ft 3in. In the 275, headroom increased to 6ft, while a wider stern and more upright transom created extra cockpit space.
The lifting keel also became considerably heavier, increasing from around 250lb in the Parker 27 to 700lb of iron in the 275. That extra weight lowered the centre of gravity, improving sailing performance. The trade-off was the effort needed to raise the daggerboard: 180 turns of a winch handle and three to four minutes of winding. An optional electric winch reduced the job to 30 seconds.
Both the rudder and daggerboard lift, allowing the boat to dry out on her hull. At 5,500lb, she displaces a third less than an 8,500lb Westerly Konsort. That relatively light displacement gives the Parker 275 a big-dinghy feel and rewards an active helm.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The mainsheet is mounted outside the cockpit, with control lines led aft. This keeps the cockpit uncluttered and provides a safer arrangement for a small crew.
Under way, the helm is light and responsive. Writing in Yachting Monthly, the tester who first took the wheel called it the lightest, most responsive helm he had handled on a cruising boat. That responsiveness is fantastic for racing and short hops, although an autopilot earns its keep on longer legs.
In a Force 3–4, the boat proved fast and forgiving, with just enough stiffness to feel safe without becoming dull. One owner reports a tacking angle of about 40° to the true wind. Owners also report a very dry deck in normal sailing, with 5 knots routine, 6 good, 7 cracking, and 8 a lucky surf.
A 110% genoa is a sensible all-round compromise between the original blade jib and a large overlapping genoa. Owners who moved the sheet tracks inside the shrouds found the resulting set-up more manageable, while performing just as well in most conditions.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The upright transom helps provide a decent cockpit, although the berth beneath it requires a shallow cockpit sole. Below, the accommodation feels light, airy, and spacious enough for a 27-footer.
There’s a generous double bunk aft. Forward, a bulkhead carries two doors: the starboard door leads to the heads, while the port door opens into a foc’s’le with another more-than-adequate double berth. In all, the boat provides six berths of various sizes.
The original boat came with two tables, one for the saloon and another for the cockpit. A small but functional galley handles catering aboard. The clear limitation is stowage: below-decks storage is limited for extended living.
Keel Handling
The principal operational drawback is the weight of the lifting keel. Raising the 700lb iron foil manually takes 180 turns of the winch handle and three to four minutes. On a boat without the optional electric winch, that process will test patience at every drying berth or shallow creek.
Refits and Ownership
One common major refit reported by owners is replacing the original 10hp Yanmar with a 14hp Beta engine, a straightforward power upgrade on a single-diesel platform.
Sail-plan changes, including inside-sheeted genoas and the 110% compromise, are owner-level improvements rather than structural work. The brand’s small scale allowed it to maintain a clear vision and high build quality through the 1990s.
The Verdict
The Parker 275 is a small but lively performer, better suited to enjoyable weekend sailing than extended family cruising. She develops Holland’s 1978 shallow-draught concept into a lighter, stiffer 1990s hull with a rewarding helm and genuine drying-out capability. In return, owners accept limited stowage and a lifting keel that’s far from effortless to handle manually.
Pros
- Light, responsive helm, with a big-dinghy feel and good stiffness in a moderate breeze
- Lifting keel and rudder allow the boat to dry out or explore shallow creeks
- Six berths and a light, airy interior that is surprisingly roomy for a 27-footer
- Displacement a third lower than a Westerly Konsort, aiding performance and trailability
Cons
- Manual keel lift is slow and physically demanding without the electric winch
- Limited below-decks storage for longer stays
- Shallow cockpit sole because of the aft berth below
- Better suited to short-handed weekend use than extended cruising
