Vancouver 27

In Brief

 

The first in the Vancouver Yacht series, the Vancouver 27 is a ‘go anywhere’pocket cruiser designed by Canadian Robert Harris in 1972. This sturdy 27-foot cutter was squarely aimed for couples looking to sail the world’s oceans. Purpose built for exactly this purpose, the first boat sailed successfully from British Columbia to New Zealand and back. The solid good-looking design attracted enough attention that molds were made from the second boat built. Various versions went on to be produced in Canada and in England and more than 250 have been built in total including the extended 28 foot version, the Vancouver 28, which is still being made in England today. Canadian production ended when the molds were destroyed by a storm in 1988.

 

Though small and relatively heavy, she’s uncompromising with few concessions to

speed and performance. Under the waterline there’s a full keel with a cutaway

forefoot which gives her a stable helm and good balance on all points of sail. In the

UK the design was tweaked by adding three inches to the beam at the waterline

to stiffen her up, the result being a pronounced tumblehome in the hull which

the Canadian boats don’t have.  In breaking seas her high freeboard, neat

cockpit and built in bridge deck help prevent water below. Her propeller

and rudder are protected from grounding and fouling damage by the set-up

of her keel, skeg and stern-post. Lots of headroom, plenty of stowage

space and ease of handling are characteristic. As would be expected

by the design she’s not fast nor particularly close winded but she’s easy

to handle in all conditions and ideal for a short-handed crew. English

sailor Rona House can testify to this having completed a solo

circumnavigation in her Vancouver 27. The cutter rig gives maximum

sail plan versatility and the outboard rudder allows for use of

self-steering mechanisms that are a cruiser’s best friend on long

passages. Experience has shown that her traditional hull design

copes easily with the rigors of offshore passages, even when

chock full of cruising gear.

 

Inside the Vancouver 27 is a sensible small-boat layout just

made for a couple at sea with three berths being the norm,

although a four berth layout was also available. The three

berth version has no berth forward but instead has the

third berth aft in the saloon leaving plenty room for

stowage up front as well as space for a generously

sized quarter berth, galley and chart table. 6′ 6″ of

headroom heads up the comfort factor inside

 

Specifications

 

LOA: 27′ 0″
LWL: 22′ 11″
Beam: 8′ 8″
Draft: 4′ 3″
Displacement: 8,700 lbs
Ballast: 3,500 lbs
Sail Area: 379 sq. ft.

Headroom: 6′ 6″
Engine: 1 cylinder Yanmar
Fuel: 45 US Gal.
Water: 65 US Gal.

Designer: Robert B. Harris
Builder: Philbrooks Shipyard
Year: 1977