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Lancer 27 Ps
Designer: Herb David  ·  Builder: Lancer  ·  First built: 1983
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About the Lancer 27 Ps

Designed by Herb David and built by Lancer from 1983 to 1985, this 26-footer represents a brief but notable entry in the competitive small cruiser market of the early 1980s. With its fin keel and spade rudder configuration, the Lancer 27 Ps delivers responsive handling characteristics that make it well-suited for coastal cruising and club racing. The boat's fractional sloop rig and moderate sail area provide a balanced sailing experience, while the fiberglass construction ensures durability and relatively low maintenance. At 4,600 pounds displacement with 1,700 pounds of ballast, the design strikes a reasonable balance between performance and stability for its size class. The comfort ratio of 17.36 indicates a relatively stiff, motion-prone platform typical of performance-oriented designs from this era, making it better suited for day sailing and short coastal passages rather than extended cruising. The capsize screening formula of 2.07 suggests good initial stability for coastal waters, though like most boats of this size, it's not intended for serious offshore work. With only three years of production, the Lancer 27 Ps remains a relatively rare find on the used boat market, appealing primarily to sailors seeking an affordable entry into the world of small boat cruising and racing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.58 ft / 8.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Beam 8.58 ft / 2.62 m
Max Draft 4.30 ft / 1.31 m
Displacement 4,600.00 lb / 2,087 kg
Ballast 1,700.00 lb / 771 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 310.00 ft² / 28.80 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Herb David
Builder Lancer
First Built 1983
Last Built 1985
Related Sailboats ["S2 27" · "Cal 3 27" · "Tanzer 27" · "Hunter 265" · "Cc 27 Mk V"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 216
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
 17.98
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 36.96
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
 192.86
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
 17.36
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
 2.07
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. 6.29 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.77
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. 674.46 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.83
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 29.80 ft / 9.08 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.40 ft / 2.87 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
SA Fore 140.06 ft² / 13.01 m²
SA Main 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
SA Total (100%) 290.06 ft² / 26.95 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.25 ft / 9.53 m
How It Compares

vs. Cal 3 27, Hunter 265, Tanzer 27

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Lancer 27 Ps ★
26.6 ft
Cal 3 27
26.7 ft
Hunter 265
26.6 ft
Tanzer 27
26.6 ft
LWL
Lancer 27 Ps ★
22.0 ft
Cal 3 27
23.3 ft
Hunter 265
22.4 ft
Tanzer 27
22.5 ft
Beam
Lancer 27 Ps ★
8.6 ft
Cal 3 27
9.0 ft
Hunter 265
9.0 ft
Tanzer 27
9.5 ft
Displacement
Lancer 27 Ps ★
4 lbs
Cal 3 27
5 lbs
Hunter 265
4 lbs
Tanzer 27
6 lbs
Ballast
Lancer 27 Ps ★
1 lbs
Cal 3 27
2 lbs
Hunter 265
1 lbs
Tanzer 27
2 lbs
Sail Area
Lancer 27 Ps ★
310 sq ft
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
304 sq ft
Tanzer 27
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
216 s/nm
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
—
Tanzer 27
216 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
18.0
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
18.2
Tanzer 27
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
37.0 %
Cal 3 27
38.5 %
Hunter 265
40.9 %
Tanzer 27
36.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
17.4
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
15.4
Tanzer 27
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
2.07
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
2.20
Tanzer 27
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
192
Cal 3 27
184
Hunter 265
174
Tanzer 27
242
Hull Speed
Lancer 27 Ps ★
6.3 kts
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
6.3 kts
Tanzer 27
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Lancer 27 Ps ★
2.8
Cal 3 27
—
Hunter 265
3.2
Tanzer 27
—
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