Design Brief & Intent
The Ticon 27 was built specifically to serve as a versatile coastal cruiser and club racer, optimized for the chop and variable breezes of the Great Lakes and the North American East Coast. Swanson achieved his goal of maximizing interior volume by utilizing a generous ten-foot beam. This beam, exceptional for a 27-foot boat of this era, allowed for an uncommonly spacious layout below decks.
The interior fit-out is practical and warm, featuring a blend of teak trim and low-maintenance fiberglass liners typical of early-1980s Canadian construction. The layout maximizes every inch of the hull, offering a functional galley, a dedicated head, a traditional V-berth, and a salon that benefits immensely from the wide beam. The joinery and assembly standards reflect the influence of Kelt Marine's experienced production floor, providing a solid, quiet feel while underway. This design philosophy appealed directly to young families and cruising couples who wanted a manageable, easy-to-slip boat that did not feel cramped during extended weekend stays.
Variations & Configurations
The Ticon 27 was offered in a highly standardized package designed to simplify production and maximize efficiency. The vast majority of hulls were delivered with a masthead sloop rig. This rig configuration provides a balanced, easily managed sail plan that carries its sail area relatively low, keeping the heeling moment under control in heavier blows.
Under the water, the Ticon 27 utilizes a high-aspect fin keel paired with a balanced spade rudder. Interestingly, the boat features a shoal-draft fin design drawing only three and a half feet. This shallow draft is a significant advantage for cruisers navigating the thin waters of bays, estuaries, and shallow marinas. To compensate for the reduced depth of the keel and to maintain stability, Swanson specified a heavy ballast package. The boat carries a substantial lead ballast of 2,800 pounds, resulting in a robust ballast-to-displacement ratio of 46.67%.
Sailing Performance & Handling
At the helm, the Ticon 27 is characterized by its remarkable stiffness and stability, a direct result of its high ballast-to-displacement ratio. It stands up well to its canvas and resists heeling, making it a reassuring platform for inexperienced crews or families sailing in brisk conditions. The displacement-to-length ratio of 248.83 classifies the Ticon 27 as a moderate-displacement cruiser. This ensures it has enough mass to push through a head chop without losing momentum, while still remaining light enough to perform respectably in light air when paired with a large genoa.
However, the boat’s design compromises are apparent in other metrics. The capsize screening ratio of 2.2 places the Ticon 27 slightly above the traditional threshold for offshore racing, indicating that this hull is fundamentally designed for coastal, lake, and protected-water operations rather than blue-water ocean passages. Its comfort ratio of 18.33 reflects a motion comfort that is typical for a light-to-moderate 27-foot production boat—it is lively in a seaway, though the wide beam and heavy ballast temper the rolling motion compared to narrower designs of the same era.
Auxiliary power was originally provided by an 8-horsepower Renault RC8D single-cylinder diesel engine. Because the boat has a displacement of 6,000 pounds, this engine is modest, making the vessel somewhat underpowered when motoring into a stiff headwind or a heavy sea. Under power, owners can expect a cruising speed of around 4 knots, though the hull's theoretical maximum speed is 6.3 knots.
Market Snapshot & Economics
On the contemporary brokerage market, the Ticon 27 is a rare find due to its limited production run before Ticon Yachts ceased operations. When these boats do emerge, they trade as high-value, entry-level cruisers rather than commanding a premium. They are highly regarded by budget-conscious buyers seeking more interior volume than a standard 27-footer can typically provide.
Prospective buyers must carefully weigh the refit economics of the Ticon 27. Because of its age and scarcity, a neglected model can quickly become a financial liability if major components are compromised. However, for a buyer willing to address cosmetic and minor mechanical issues, the Ticon 27 offers an incredibly cost-effective entry point into pocket cruising, delivering the interior space of many vintage 30-footers with the slip fees and maintenance costs of a 27-foot boat.
Known Issues & Triage
The most critical point of evaluation for any vintage Ticon 27 is its auxiliary engine. The original Renault RC8D diesel is a vintage, raw-water-cooled French engine that is now obsolete. Sourcing replacement parts, seals, or specialized mechanical advice in North America can be exceptionally difficult, and many units suffer from internal corrosion in their raw-water cooling passages. A thorough engine inspection is mandatory; if the original Renault is smoke-heavy or shows signs of chronic overheating, a complete engine replacement should be factored into the purchase price.
Like many balsa-cored decks of the 1980s, the Ticon 27 is susceptible to moisture intrusion and subsequent delamination. Key areas of concern include the deck surrounding the chainplates, stanchion bases, and the cabin trunk where hardware has been mounted. Owners should inspect these areas with a moisture meter and a sounding hammer. Additionally, given the high ballast-to-displacement ratio, the structural floors and keel bolts bear significant loads. The bilge should be dry and inspected for any signs of movement, hairline fractures in the fiberglass grid, or corrosion around the keel fasteners.
Modernization & Upgrades
The most transformative upgrade for a Ticon 27 is a modern engine repower. Swapping the original 8-horsepower Renault diesel for a modern 10-to-14-horsepower diesel engine (such as a Beta Marine or a Yanmar 1GM10) completely resolves the vessel's underpowered feel and ensures long-term mechanical reliability.
Because these boats are primary candidates for weekend cruising, modernizing the electrical system is another common and highly effective upgrade. Replacing the vintage, minimal DC wiring with a modern lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery bank, paired with a small solar array mounted on a bimini or stern rail, allows for comfortable off-grid weekend anchoring. Upgrading to a modern, efficient folding prop can also help reduce drag and squeeze additional performance out of the boat's moderate-displacement hull in light-air conditions.
The Verdict
The Ticon 27 is a well-built, incredibly spacious pocket cruiser that punches far above its weight class in terms of interior comfort and initial stability. While it is not a globetrotting blue-water cruiser, it represents a highly capable, stiff, and dry-riding option for coastal sailors, lake cruisers, and weekend family adventurers.
Pros
- Exceptional ten-foot beam creates an uncommonly spacious, "big boat" interior layout.
- Outstanding stability and stiffness in a breeze due to a high ballast-to-displacement ratio.
- Extremely shoal draft of 3.5 feet allows access to thin-water anchorages and shallow slips.
- High production quality resulting from the Kelt Marine manufacturing partnership.
Cons
- Original 8-horsepower Renault engine is underpowered and replacement parts are highly scarce.
- Reduced pointing ability when sailing close-hauled compared to deeper draft fin-keeled designs of similar length.
- Limited production run makes finding parts-matching sisterships and brokerage listings difficult.
