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Santana 27
Designer: Gary Mull  ·  Builder: W. D. Schock Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Santana 27

Designed by Gary Mull and built by W. D. Schock Corp from 1967 to 1974, this 27-footer represents one of the early successes in combining racing performance with cruising practicality. With 210 hulls produced during its seven-year production run, the Santana 27 earned a solid reputation among West Coast sailors seeking an affordable yet capable sailboat. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration, progressive for its era, delivers responsive handling and good upwind performance. At 5,000 pounds displacement with 2,300 pounds of ballast, she strikes a reasonable balance between stability and speed. The masthead sloop rig provides 348 square feet of sail area, generating a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 19.1 that favors spirited sailing in moderate conditions. Gary Mull's design philosophy emphasized clean lines and efficient sailing characteristics, making the Santana 27 well-suited for coastal cruising, club racing, and day sailing. The comfort ratio of 17.35 suggests a boat that prioritizes performance over heavy-weather comfort, while the capsize screening formula of 2.11 indicates reasonable stability for protected waters. With a hull speed of 6.36 knots, she offers respectable performance for weekend adventures and competitive sailing in smaller boat fleets.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.04 ft / 8.24 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Beam 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Max Draft 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement 5,000.00 lb / 2,268 kg
Ballast 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 348.00 ft² / 32.33 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Gary Mull
Builder W. D. Schock Corp. (USA)
First Built 1967
Last Built 1974
Number Built 210
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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
 201
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
 19.1
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
 46
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
 195.96
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
 17.35
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
 2.11
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. 6.36 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
 3
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. 723.55 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. 19.1
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 33.75 ft / 10.29 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.25 ft / 3.43 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 27.50 ft / 8.38 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
SA Fore 189.84 ft² / 17.64 m²
SA Main 158.13 ft² / 14.69 m²
SA Total (100%) 347.97 ft² / 32.33 m²
Est. Forestay Length 35.58 ft / 10.84 m
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