Design and Construction
The Stiletto's defining trait is its structure: epoxy-saturated fiberglass over a Nomex honeycomb core, a material borrowed from helicopter blades and aircraft parts rather than conventional boatbuilding. The builder claimed a Nomex-cored panel, for a given weight, is stronger, stiffer, less brittle, and more puncture resistant than foam or wood cores, and noted the nylon-based honeycomb is impervious to water so a ruptured skin will not let water migrate between cells. The fiberglass cloth was pre-impregnated with epoxy and, after layup, the mold was baked at 250 degrees for 90 minutes while the skins were vacuum-bagged to the core using a blotter and 16 spigots to spread the vacuum. Because gelcoat cannot survive this process, each hull was faired with putty and painted with polyurethane. Each hull weighed only 220 pounds and the bridgedeck 125, yielding a total displacement of 1,100 to 1,570 pounds depending on options. The hulls and bridgedeck are both Nomex-cored, and the solid bridgedeck runs between the hulls aft of the mast.
Rig and Handling
The Stiletto carries a rotating aluminum mast built with conventional technology, paired with a fractional sloop rig and a ball-bearing mainsheet traveler. The original mainsheet offered only a 6-to-1 purchase. Older masts were controlled by athwartships diamond shrouds alone, while later boats added a third diamond forward to check fore-and-aft bend in a strong breeze. Steering runs through rudders with strong aluminum heads and double lower pintles, which test sailors found worked smoothly and positively on the boats they sailed. A single centerboard runs on centerline through a slot in the bridgedeck except on the rare GT models; early boards were wood airfoils, later ones molded fiberglass and more resistant to damage. Forward of the mast lies a polypropylene mesh trampoline, and the 9-inch-up draft makes the boat a natural for launching off a beach.
Accommodations
The Special Edition was the cruising trim, fitted with pocket-cruising gear: a galley, head, berths, carpeted interior, and running lights. Its original interior was entirely covered—ceilings, overhead, and sole—with marine carpeting, and bridgedeck cushions were standard. The berths are narrow at 31 inches but run a generous 14 feet, one per hull, and the head is self-contained beneath one berth. The small galley held a sink, hand-pump faucet, and a two-gallon water tank. Molded-in benches line each side of the bridgedeck, and the conical, vacuum-formed polycarbonate companionway hatches give the boat its distinctive jet-fighter look. The Special Edition was also the only version with standard running and interior lights.
Equipment and Power
Propulsion is an outboard hung off the aft crossbeam on a dedicated bracket, keeping the hulls clear for living space. The light displacement and powerful rig place the Stiletto firmly among performance multihulls, with lean interiors traded for speed and trailering ease.
The Verdict
The Stiletto 27 Spec. ED. is a clever piece of engineering: an aircraft-derived core mated to a baked-epoxy skin, yielding a 1,100-pound catamaran that sleeps two at length. It is best understood as a beachcat that learned to cook, not a cruiser that learned to race.
Pros
- Nomex honeycomb core resists water migration if skin is breached
- 9-inch centerboard-up draft for beach and shallow access
- Long 14-foot berths and standard cruising amenities in Special Edition
- Smooth, positive rudder feel per test sailing
Cons
- Narrow 31-inch berths limit sleeping comfort
- Original 6-to-1 mainsheet purchase is modest
- Two-gallon water tank constrains time aboard without resupply
