Design and Construction
The hull is solid fibreglass with a fin keel and a transom-hung rudder, carrying an iron ballast of 1,433 pounds against a displacement of 5,913 pounds for a ballast ratio of 24 percent. The beam is a generous 9.78 feet on a 27.23-foot overall length, an l/b ratio of 2.79 that reads as a wide, volume-oriented hull rather than a slender racer. The builder describes a vertical bow, wide hull, and high sides contributing to an exceptionally stable platform with a stated "safety margin," and the cockpit is wide and deep enough to keep crews dry in a seaway. With a capsize screening value of 2.16, the design falls outside the threshold accepted for ocean racing, but its Motion Comfort Ratio of 17.5 and a displacement-length ratio of 192 place it among moderate-displacement cruisers with a predictable, forgiving motion. The theoretical hull speed works out to 6.6 knots, and the wetted surface of roughly 247 square feet keeps the boat in the moderate-racer category rather than a heavy voyager.
Rig and Handling
The Scandinavia 27 carries a fractional sloop rig with a mast height of 38.39 feet above the waterline and a sail area of 328 square feet, yielding a sail-area/displacement ratio of 16.06 — enough to drive the boat well without demanding a large crew. The builder credits the hull with unparalleled stability and speed for its size. Standing and running rigging follow sensible cruising dimensions: the jib and genoa sheets are specified at 27.2 feet and 3/8 inch, the mainsheet at 68.1 feet and 3/8 inch, and the spinnaker sheet at 59.9 feet and 3/8 inch, all in 10 mm diameter. The draft runs about 4.27 feet loaded, shallow enough to tuck into modest marinas while retaining a fin-keel turn of speed.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is laid out for a crowd: the builder lists 6–8 sleeping places, elsewhere noted as 5+1 berths, with an interior headroom of 1.78 metres. A large table seats eight, paired with a fully equipped galley and a separate toilet compartment — a rare concession to privacy in a 27-footer. The elegant, slim-silhouette styling above the waterline gives way to high functionality below, and the CE Category B/C rating confirms the dual inland-and-coastal ambition. A 67-litre water tank supports short cruises, and the outboard or optional 12 HP inboard power covers docking and calm-weather motoring.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a used example will find a straightforward modern fibreglass cruiser with a documented outboard option of 5–10 HP or a 12 HP stationary engine. The solid-hull construction and simple fin-keel-under-transom-rudder arrangement keep underwater gear legible and serviceable. The 145 kg/cm immersion rate (816 lbs/inch) means load changes are easy to predict when provisioning for a full complement of eight.
The Verdict
The Scandinavia 27 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser that trades outright offshore certification for volume, stability, and a genuine eight-person cabin. Its wide beam and deep cockpit make it a confident coastal and inland explorer, while the fractional rig keeps handling manageable.
Pros
- Wide hull and high sides with a deep cockpit for dry, stable sailing
- Sleeps up to eight with a separate head and full galley
- Shallow enough draft to enter modest marinas
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes it from ocean racing
- CE Category B/C limits open-sea exposure
