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Biscayne 27
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Astilleros Gallart (Esp)  ·  First built: 1962
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About the Biscayne 27

Designed by the legendary naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens and built by Spanish yard Astilleros Gallart beginning in 1962, this 27-footer represents classic yacht design from sailing's golden era. The wooden construction and traditional lines reflect the high standards expected from an S&S design, making it a sought-after vintage vessel among sailing enthusiasts who appreciate craftsmanship and heritage. With a displacement of 7,600 pounds and deep 6.5-foot draft, the Biscayne 27 offers substantial stability and seaworthiness that belies its modest size. The masthead sloop rig provides excellent sail handling characteristics, while the keel/centerboard configuration combines the tracking ability of a fixed keel with the shallow-water versatility of a lifting board. This hybrid design makes the boat particularly well-suited for coastal cruising and gunkholing in areas with varying depths. The comfort ratio of 29.19 indicates a relatively stiff, stable platform that handles choppy conditions well, while the capsize screening formula of 1.77 suggests reasonable offshore capability for experienced sailors. The SA/displacement ratio of 15.65 points to moderate performance that prioritizes comfort and control over pure speed, making this an ideal boat for relaxed coastal cruising and weekend adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.33 ft / 8.33 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.65 ft / 6.29 m
Beam 8.67 ft / 2.64 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Min Draft 3.12 ft / 0.95 m
Displacement 7,600.00 lb / 3,447 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 377.00 ft² / 35.02 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Astilleros Gallart (ESP)
First Built 1962
Related Sailboats Contest 27 · Cal 27 · Cc 27 Mk I · Fairey Fisherman 27 · Laurin 28
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.65
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 385.31
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 29.19
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.77
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.09 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 639.71 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
How It Compares

vs. Cal 27, Cc 27 Mk I, Contest 27, Fairey Fisherman 27, Laurin 28

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Biscayne 27 ★
27.3 ft
Cal 27
27.3 ft
Cc 27 Mk I
27.3 ft
Contest 27
27.3 ft
Fairey Fisherman 27
27.4 ft
Laurin 28
27.4 ft
LWL
Biscayne 27 ★
20.7 ft
Cal 27
22.3 ft
Cc 27 Mk I
22.2 ft
Contest 27
21.7 ft
Fairey Fisherman 27
25.0 ft
Laurin 28
24.0 ft
Beam
Biscayne 27 ★
8.7 ft
Cal 27
9.0 ft
Cc 27 Mk I
9.2 ft
Contest 27
8.9 ft
Fairey Fisherman 27
8.8 ft
Laurin 28
8.2 ft
Displacement
Biscayne 27 ★
7 lbs
Cal 27
5 lbs
Cc 27 Mk I
5 lbs
Contest 27
5 lbs
Fairey Fisherman 27
5 lbs
Laurin 28
7 lbs
Ballast
Biscayne 27 ★
—
Cal 27
2 lbs
Cc 27 Mk I
2 lbs
Contest 27
2 lbs
Fairey Fisherman 27
1 lbs
Laurin 28
3 lbs
Sail Area
Biscayne 27 ★
377 sq ft
Cal 27
—
Cc 27 Mk I
344 sq ft
Contest 27
—
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
355 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Biscayne 27 ★
—
Cal 27
198 s/nm
Cc 27 Mk I
—
Contest 27
228 s/nm
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
240 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Biscayne 27 ★
15.7
Cal 27
—
Cc 27 Mk I
18.4
Contest 27
—
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
15.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Biscayne 27 ★
—
Cal 27
50.5 %
Cc 27 Mk I
48.5 %
Contest 27
46.8 %
Fairey Fisherman 27
20.0 %
Laurin 28
48.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Biscayne 27 ★
29.2
Cal 27
—
Cc 27 Mk I
17.6
Contest 27
—
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
27.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Biscayne 27 ★
1.77
Cal 27
—
Cc 27 Mk I
2.13
Contest 27
—
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
1.70
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Biscayne 27 ★
385
Cal 27
216
Cc 27 Mk I
212
Contest 27
227
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
234
Hull Speed
Biscayne 27 ★
6.1 kts
Cal 27
—
Cc 27 Mk I
6.3 kts
Contest 27
—
Fairey Fisherman 27
—
Laurin 28
6.6 kts
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