Archambault A27

The design was built by Archambault Boats in Dangé-Saint-Romain, France, starting in 2012, but it is now out of production as the company ceased business in 2015.[1][2][7][8]

The Archambault A27 is a racing keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass. The hull is a single skin, vacuum-infused polyester fibreglass, while the deck is a PVC polyester, vacuum-infused sandwich. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars, a retractable bowsprit, a deck-stepped mast and two sets of swept spreaders. The hull has a plumb stem; an open, plumb transom; an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a tiller with an extension and a fixed fin keel, twin keels or a hydraulically-operated swing keel with dual rudders. It displaces 4,750 lb (2,155 kg) and carries 1,764 lb (800 kg) of cast iron ballast.[1][2][5][6]

The single fin keel-equipped version of the boat has a draft of 5.67 ft (1.73 m), the twin keel version has a draft of 3.83 ft (1.17 m), while the swing keel-equipped version has a draft of 6.92 ft (2.11 m) with the keel extended and 3.08 ft (0.94 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water.[1][2][5][6]

The boat is fitted with either an inboard diesel engine of 12 hp (9 kW) with a [[sail drive, or a small outboard motor for docking and manoeuvring. The fuel tank holds 7.9 U.S. gallons (30 L; 6.6 imp gal) and a 13 U.S. gallons (49 L; 11 imp gal) freshwater tank is optional.[1][2][5][6][9]

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settees in the main cabin, along with a centre table. The galley is located on both sides just aft the bow cabin. The galley is equipped with an optional gimbaled stove and a single sink. The head is a chemical type and is located under the bow "V"-berth. Ventilation is provided by a foredeck hatch.[1][2][5][6][9]

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker or an asymmetrical spinnaker of 786 sq ft (73.0 m²). The mainsheet traveller is set into the deck, just aft of the tiller. It has a hull speed of 6.70 kn (12.41 km/h), but will also plane.[2][5][6][10]

In a 2012 Yacht magazine review Michael Good wrote, "a bowsprit and aggressive lines betray the sporty genes of this Joubert-Nivelt design that promises high performance potential. The interior arrangement, which is relatively comfortable for a boat of this size, with four bunks, an open forward cabin, and a standard porta-potti, turns the A27 into a weekender or even a modest cruising boat, with the optional comfort package that includes additional lockers, settees with backrests, a saloon table, a stove, and a 50-liter water tank."[11]

Adam Cort of Sail magazine wrote a review in 2014, saying, "with its blunt ends, retractable sprit, wide-open racing cockpit and hiking wings, is very much the kind of a boat that stands out in a crowd. But what really impressed me about this little sportster (aside from its performance) were the accommodations."[9]

Sail magazine named the boat one of its Best Boats 2014, in the Performance Monohull (30ft and under) class, saying, "this athletic-looking racer features a plumb bow with a slightly upturned knuckle just above the waterline, a hard chine, hiking wings, and a planing-friendly undercarriage than transitions into beamy, equally planing-friendly stern sections."[10]

• List of sailing boat types

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