Dean Hennevanger conceived the boat with Kees Van de Stadt of Satellite Yacht Design. Saffier Yachts builds it in IJmuiden, while Bluenose Yachts of Newport, Rhode Island, handles distribution in the United States. Despite the “Leisure” name, the SE 27 has proved quick, dry, and genuinely entertaining under sail, whether handled single-handed or by a small crew.
Design and Construction
The SE 27 has a light, slim hull with clean lines, a fine entry, vertical stem, and broad stern. According to the survey quote, it displaces 4,200 pounds and measures 7 feet 5 inches in beam. Standard ballast is 1,980 pounds of lead, distributed among a choice of keels with drafts ranging from 3 feet 9 inches to the standard 5 feet 5 inches.
The hull is vacuum-bagged with a foam core. At the keel root, the builders use solid laminate, with the ballast bolted through 22mm of material reinforced by transverse and fore-and-aft stiffening members. The bowsprit is molded into the forward deck rather than added as a bolt-on component.
The boat is engineered to be as light as a reasonable strength margin allows. Its displacement-length ratio of 96 and sail-area-displacement ratio of 26 put it firmly among lively, easily driven boats.
Rig, Controls, and Sailing Performance
In the words of SAIL Magazine’s tester, sailing the SE 27 is “an absolute joy”. Its responsiveness could give a Laser a run for its money, while keeping the crew considerably drier.
All controls lead aft to four cockpit winches. A German-style mainsheet runs beneath the low coachroof molding, with its halyard exiting at the mast base. A two-speed Harken electric winch handles the mainsheet to port, while a 16:1 backstay is recessed into a full-width traveler track. Sail-plan options include an overlapping or self-tacking jib, plus a sprit for a gennaker or Code 0.
During the test, the boat had a 1.4m keel and an aluminum rig. It sailed upwind at 5.6 to 5.7 knots, with tacking angles of 80 degrees or less and a VMG of 4.3 knots. The designer’s polar data and a builder video both indicate planing performance downwind, with speeds around 15 knots in 20 to 25 knots of breeze.
Steering can be by wheel or tiller. Testers found the helm so light that they occasionally missed some feedback, though they also felt anyone could helm the boat comfortably.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit is genuinely spacious, with room for up to eight people. A large open area behind the wheel is bisected by the mainsheet track. The table stows away for sailing, and a small windscreen helps keep water out while remaining easy to stow.
Below, the SE 27 is basic but cleverly arranged for its size. Two settee berths extend aft into quarter berths and offer sitting headroom. Forward, a V-berth squeezes in two more people. The heads is beneath the aft end of the V-berth. Space under the companionway can be used for stowage or a fridge, and a small Isotherm locker has also been noted.
The low cabin trunk limits standing room, but it preserves the clean profile that makes the boat a head-turner.
Propulsion and Options
The standard boat now has an Aquamot 4.3kW electric motor with a lithium battery. The system weighs less than half as much as an equivalent diesel, though the tested boat used a 4kW Torqeedo driving a two-bladed folding propeller. A diesel alternative remains available.
The standard arrangement uses a single deep rudder blade. The shallow-draft keel comes with twin rudders, retaining control in thin water. Buyers can also specify a carbon rig instead of the standard aluminum version.
The Verdict
The Saffier SE 27 Leisure succeeds as a modern performance daysailer with real cruising utility tucked beneath its low, graceful profile. Its light, vacuum-cored hull, lead-ballasted keel options, and all-controls-aft rig make it well suited to solo sailing and small-crew racing. Its very light helm and limited headroom, however, won’t suit everyone.
Pros
- Exceptional responsiveness and a dry ride for a 27-footer
- All lines led aft for easy single-handed or short-handed sailing
- Light, stiff vacuum-foam construction with a reinforced keel root
- Spacious cockpit with a clever stowable table and windscreen
- Standard electric propulsion at less than half the weight of an equivalent diesel
Cons
- Very light helm may leave experienced sailors wanting more feedback
- Limited headroom and basic accommodations below
- Twin rudders require the shallow-keel version; the standard boat has a single blade
