Design and Construction
The SE 24 measures 26 feet 3 inches overall, with a hull length and waterline of 23 feet 4 inches and a beam of 7 feet 10 inches. Its wide hull, flat aft sections, and long waterline trade a little interior volume for a stable, easily driven platform.
Light displacement is central to the design. The boat weighs 2,646 pounds, or 1,200 kilograms, including 992 pounds of lead ballast in a deep L-keel. That gives it a 37.5 percent ballast ratio. Saffier offers three keel depths, ranging from 1.00 to 1.44 meters, so owners can choose between shoal-water access and greater stability in deeper water.
The builder estimates that the electric drive is 70% lighter than diesel propulsion. That weight saving helps keep the hull lively without giving up the righting moment provided by the lead keel.
Rig and Handling
The SE 24 carries a fractional sloop rig and has tiller steering linked to a deep, single balanced spade rudder. The arrangement gives immediate helm feedback in the manner of a large dinghy.
Upwind sail area is a modest 334 square feet, but when the wind frees, the boat can carry either a 41-square-meter Code Zero or a 48-square-meter gennaker from the end of its carbon bowsprit.
All lines lead aft to the coachroof. The mainsheet runs from a traveller across the aft deck to a cleating block on the cockpit sole forward of the tiller, while the winches for the offwind sails sit outboard of the coamings. This layout allows a solo sailor to manage the boat from well forward in the cockpit.
The three keel-depth options also support the boat’s trailable design, and the hull can be launched from a single lifting point.
Cockpit and Accommodations
A large, raised sun pad encloses the aft end of the cockpit. It turns the broad, flat-sectioned stern into a lounging platform rather than a working area, an appropriate choice for a boat intended primarily for daysailing enjoyment rather than extended cruising.
Below the raised companionway, the SE 24 is a minimalist weekender. It has a double berth forward and settees on either side. There’s space for a portapotti beneath the settees, while a refrigerated drawer is set into the sole below the hatch.
Electric Propulsion
Electric propulsion is a central part of the SE 24’s concept. A 3.5kW Torqeedo pod drive provides thrust, and solar panels are integrated into the coachroof. The designed-in solar capacity is intended to be sufficient to charge the Torqeedo battery for the electric drive.
This combination of solar charging and pod propulsion means the SE 24 can be used for daysailing without depending on shore-power hookups—a meaningful simplification for a trailable boat.
The Verdict
The Saffier SE 24 is a purpose-built daysailer that succeeds by staying light, simple, and self-contained. Its long-waterline hull, flat aft sections, and deep lead ballast create a stable, quick platform. Tiller steering and a rig controlled by lines led aft make it well suited to short-handed sailing, while the coachroof solar panels and electric pod drive avoid the complication and weight of a diesel engine.
What it isn’t is a full cruiser. The accommodations are bare-bones, and the modest upwind sail plan means the Code Zero and gennaker do much of the work when the crew wants more excitement.
Pros
- Light 2,646-pound displacement and a 37.5 percent lead-ballast ratio provide a lively, stable hull
- Trailable design, a single lifting point, and three keel depths for shoal or deep water
- All lines led aft, with tiller steering and a balanced spade rudder for straightforward single-handed sailing
- Integrated solar panels charge the battery for the 3.5kW Torqeedo pod drive, allowing diesel-free daysailing
Cons
- Minimal belowdecks layout: a double berth, settees, space for a portapotti, and a drawer refrigerator
- Upwind sail area isn’t large, so the Code Zero or gennaker is important to the boat’s performance character
