Design and Construction
What sets the Renegade apart in its era is the split underbody with fin keel and spade rudder, a configuration Pearson had not used before this model. The hull is a solid, uncored laminate of mat and woven roving, while the deck is cored with end-grain balsa for stiffness. The keel itself is molded as an integral part of the hull and carries a 2,100-pound lead casting, giving a ballast ratio near 32 percent against the 6,500-pound displacement. The hull/deck joint uses an inward-turned flange capped with teak, and the cockpit is a practical, self-bailing space with a raised bridgedeck, two sizable scuppers, and two smaller drains forward on the seats. Molded fiberglass winch islands double as coaming storage, and the cockpit coamings are teak in early boats, switching to mahogany later. With a 21-foot waterline, 8.6-foot beam, and 4.3-foot draft, the hull form shows firm bilges, flat deadrise, and a long waterline that supports a moderate-displacement package rated at a 6.14-knot hull speed.
Rig and Handling
The Renegade is a masthead sloop carrying a fairly low-aspect mainsail on a 28-foot luff and 12-foot 6-inch foot, with anodized aluminum mast and boom and original spruce spreaders. Standing rigging is notably heavy for the size: forestay and backstay are 7/32 inch, while the uppers and forward and aft lowers are 3/16 inch, and the chainplates, turnbuckles, and deck hardware are oversized by modern standards. The well-aft spade rudder gives positive steering control and excellent maneuverability, and the boat is beautifully balanced and nimble under sail. The split underbody trims wetted surface, which Shaw noted enhanced light-air performance, and the design can turn in its own length and outmaneuver long-keel contemporaries when backing down—a reverse response that finally matched what skippers hoped for. Period testing found a comfortable motion in a seaway, with best speed in 8 to 15 knots of wind at 15 to 20 degrees of heel, and a reef recommended as the wind nears 18 to 20 knots. Low freeboard does make for a wet ride when the chop builds.
Accommodations
The original 1967 layout used a traditional port and starboard settee arrangement with the galley placed aft to port and a head and V-berth forward. For 1968, the interior was reworked to a dinette to port with quarter-berth and galley to starboard, a configuration that provides a full galley, enclosed toilet room, and ample locker and stowage. The dinette seats four, if not very comfortably. Bulkheads are mahogany with varnished trim, the headliner is fiberglass, and the interior decor was finished to invite close inspection. A 20-gallon freshwater tank sits under the V-berth, and the inboard version adds a 16-gallon Monel fuel tank beneath the cockpit. A large lazarette aft and generous port and starboard sail lockers round out stowage, while four large fixed portlights plus four smaller ones—two opening—light the cabin. At 27 feet, she is a bit small for family cruising but sails smartly.
Known Issues
The most cited handling hazard is the long boom that swept the cockpit in a jibe, a real people-sweeper given the 12-foot 6-inch foot and 6-foot 4-inch cockpit. Several owners addressed this by shortening the mainsail and raising the boom, not only for safety but to make room for dodgers and biminis. The boat also tends to ship water in a chop owing to low freeboard, a function of the hull's modest freeboard rather than a defect. The spruce original spreaders and the balsa-cored deck are period-typical items that warrant a buyer's attention for age-related decay.
Refits and Ownership
Owner-led modifications cluster around the rig for safety and comfort: the boom raise and mainsail shorten is the signature refit, often paired with canvas additions. The Universal Atomic Four inboard of 30 horsepower served the inboard version, with an outboard option available; the 16-gallon fuel tank and 20-gallon water tank define the systems envelope. Later-model hull sides were vinyl-covered rather than painted fiberglass, a useful tell when dating a specific hull. With a short production run, the Renegade remains a comparatively scarce Shaw design whose oversized rigging and solid hull make it a durable small racer-cruiser.
The Verdict
The Renegade 27 is a historically significant small Pearson that delivered then-modern fin-keel handling in a solid, moderately displacement hull with generously specified rigging. Its short production and two interior generations make it a niche find, best suited to a couple or single-handed sailor who values maneuverability over family volume.
Pros
- First Pearson with fin keel and spade rudder; turns in its own length and backs confidently
- Heavy-standing rigging and oversized deck hardware for the size
- Comfortable motion and good light-air performance from reduced wetted surface
- Solid uncored hull laminate with integral lead-keel casting
Cons
- Long boom is a jibe hazard without the common boom-raise refit
- Wet ride in chop due to low freeboard
- A bit small for family cruising
- Short production run limits parts interchange and fleet support
