The Noe 27 is aggressively canvassed for its weight, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 22.7′, the Noe 27 tops out around 6.4 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √22.7′ LWL = 6.4 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
140s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
24.6
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Comfort Ratio
12.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.39
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
756lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
12.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.39
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Noe 27 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Express 27
137s/nm
Noe 27
140s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Abbott 27
165s/nm
Cal 27
198s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.6 |
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.5 |
5.6 |
6.3 |
6.4 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.1 |
5.2 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
| Run150–180° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.4 kts),
SA/D (24.6), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Noe 27 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–5 kts
5–16 kts
16–24 kts
24+ kts
Ghosting
0–5 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
5–16 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
16–24 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
24+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Noe 27.
|
Noe 27 |
Abbott 27 |
Cal 27 |
Express 27 |
Impala 27 |
Islander 27 2 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
27.3 |
27.3 |
27.3 |
27.3 |
27.4 |
27.3 |
| LWL |
22.7 |
22.8 |
22.3 |
23.8 |
23.0 |
23.0 |
| Beam |
9.3 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
8.0 |
10.2 |
8.3 |
| Displacement |
3 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
| Ballast |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Sail Area |
374 |
356 |
350 |
276 |
397 |
285 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
140 |
165 |
198 |
137 |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
24.6 |
17.3 |
18.3 |
24.4 |
21.6 |
17.2 |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
45.0 |
50.5 |
44.9 |
43.7 |
— |
| Comfort |
12.5 |
20.6 |
18.8 |
9.6 |
14.7 |
16.4 |
| Capsize |
2.39 |
1.98 |
2.06 |
2.38 |
2.37 |
2.04 |
| Hull Speed |
6.4 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.4 |
6.4 |