Design and Construction
The SE 24’s hull is wide with flat aft sections and a long waterline, a shape that trades a little interior volume for a stable, easily driven platform. The 37.5 percent ballast ratio sits in a deep L-keel of lead, and Saffier offers three keel depths between 1.00 and 1.44 meters so owners can tailor the boat for shoal sailing or deeper-water stability. At 1,200 kilograms, the light displacement is central to the concept: the builder claims the electric drive is estimated to be 70% lighter than diesel propulsion, and that weight saving keeps the hull lively without sacrificing the righting moment the lead keel provides.
Rig and Handling
This is a fractional sloop with tiller steering driving a deep single balanced spade rudder, giving immediate helm feedback in the manner of a large dinghy. The upwind sail area isn’t huge at 334 square feet, but the boat can carry a 41-square-meter Code Zero or 48-square-meter gennaker from the end of a carbon bowsprit when the wind frees. 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, and winches for the offwind sails sit outboard of the coamings — a layout that lets a single sailor manage the boat from well forward in the cockpit. The three keel-depth options reinforce the trailable nature of the design, and the hull can be launched from a single lifting point.
Accommodations
Below the raised companionway the SE 24 is a minimalist weekender. There is a double berth forward and settees either side, with space for a portapotti tucked under the settees and a refrigerated drawer set into the sole beneath the hatch. Enclosing the aft end of the cockpit is a large raised sun pad, which turns the broad, flat-sectioned stern into a lounging platform rather than a working area — appropriate for a boat whose stated purpose is daysailing enjoyment rather than extended cruising.
Equipment and Propulsion
Electric propulsion is a huge part of the boat’s concept. A 3.5kW Torqeedo pod drive provides the thrust, and solar panels are built into the coachroof with enough integrated capacity designed in to charge the Torqeedo battery for the electric drive. That solar-and-pod combination means the SE 24 can daysail without depending on shore-power hookups, a meaningful simplification for trailable use.
The Verdict
The Saffier SE 24 is a purpose-built daysailer that succeeds by being light, simple, and self-contained. The long-waterline hull with flat aft sections and deep lead ballast gives it a stable, quick platform, while the all-aft-led rig and tiller steering make it a joy to sail short-handed. The electric pod drive backed by coachroof solar removes the fuss of diesel without weighing the boat down. What it is not is a cruiser: accommodations are bare bones, and the modest upwind sail plan means offwind toys do the heavy lifting for excitement.
Pros
- Light 2,646-pound displacement with 37.5% lead-ballast ratio for a lively, stable hull
- Trailable from a single lifting point with three keel depths for shoal or deep water
- All lines led aft and tiller-controlled spade rudder for easy single-handed sailing
- Integrated solar panels charge the 3.5kW Torqeedo pod drive for diesel-free daysailing
Cons
- Minimal belowdecks layout — double berth, settees, portapotti space, drawer fridge only
- Upwind sail area is not huge; reliance on Code Zero or gennaker for performance feel
