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Norsea 27
Designer: Lyle C. Hess  ·  Builder: Heritage Marine  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Norsea 27

A compact and capable bluewater cruiser, the Norsea 27 has earned a devoted following among sailors who appreciate serious offshore performance in a modest package. Designed with an emphasis on seaworthiness over size, this boat has a reputation for punching well above its weight when conditions turn challenging, making it a popular choice for coastal passages and short-handed bluewater voyaging alike. The Norsea 27 was built to a high standard, with a hull form and construction ethos rooted in the belief that a well-designed small boat can go virtually anywhere a larger vessel can. Its sturdy build and sensible layout have made it a trusted companion for sailors looking to venture beyond protected waters without the expense and complexity of a larger cruiser. For anyone researching an affordable entry point into bluewater sailing, the Norsea 27 is worth serious consideration. Its strong resale value and loyal owner community speak to its enduring reputation, and used examples tend to be well-maintained by owners who take their sailing seriously. It rewards capable seamanship and suits the adventurous, self-sufficient cruiser.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 3.50 ft / 1.07 m
Displacement 8,100.00 lb / 3,674 kg
Ballast 3,100.00 lb / 1,406 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 376.00 ft² / 34.93 m²
Headroom 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Lyle C. Hess
Builder Heritage Marine
First Built 1976
Related Sailboats ["Vancouver 27" · "Bristol 27 2" · "Cascade 27" · "Whitby 27 14 Ton" · "Watkins 27"]
Owner Reviews

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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
 14.96
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
 32.41
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
 1.6
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. 6.43
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
 1.57
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. 657.45
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 29.5
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.5
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.8
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.8
SA Fore 184.38
SA Main 181.72
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 27 2, Cascade 27, Whitby 27 14 Ton

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Norsea 27 ★
27.0 ft
Bristol 27 2
27.0 ft
Cascade 27
27.0 ft
Whitby 27 14 Ton
27.0 ft
LWL
Norsea 27 ★
23.0 ft
Bristol 27 2
22.1 ft
Cascade 27
21.5 ft
Whitby 27 14 Ton
20.0 ft
Beam
Norsea 27 ★
8.0 ft
Bristol 27 2
9.4 ft
Cascade 27
8.8 ft
Whitby 27 14 Ton
8.7 ft
Displacement
Norsea 27 ★
8 lbs
Bristol 27 2
8 lbs
Cascade 27
6 lbs
Whitby 27 14 Ton
3 lbs
Ballast
Norsea 27 ★
3 lbs
Bristol 27 2
—
Cascade 27
2 lbs
Whitby 27 14 Ton
—
Sail Area
Norsea 27 ★
376 sq ft
Bristol 27 2
386 sq ft
Cascade 27
348 sq ft
Whitby 27 14 Ton
273 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Norsea 27 ★
—
Bristol 27 2
234 s/nm
Cascade 27
215 s/nm
Whitby 27 14 Ton
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Norsea 27 ★
15.0
Bristol 27 2
15.1
Cascade 27
16.2
Whitby 27 14 Ton
18.2
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Norsea 27 ★
32.4
Bristol 27 2
27.5
Cascade 27
23.5
Whitby 27 14 Ton
14.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Norsea 27 ★
1.60
Bristol 27 2
1.86
Cascade 27
1.91
Whitby 27 14 Ton
2.24
Hull Speed
Norsea 27 ★
6.4 kts
Bristol 27 2
6.3 kts
Cascade 27
6.2 kts
Whitby 27 14 Ton
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Norsea 27 ★
1.6
Bristol 27 2
—
Cascade 27
1.8
Whitby 27 14 Ton
2.7
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