 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Ian Farrier |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1985 |
| No. built | 450 |
| Builder | Corsair Marine |
| Name | F-27 Sport Cruiser |
| Boat | |
| Draft | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) (board down) 0.36 m (1.2 ft) (board up) |
| Hull | |
| Type | trimaran |
| Construction | Carbon fiber,fiberglass,Kevlar and foam |
| Hull weight | 1,180 kg (2,600 lb) |
| LOA | 8.25 m (27.1 ft) |
| LWL | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Beam | 5.82 m (19.1 ft) 2.57 m (8.4 ft) (folded) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | Daggerboard |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Fractional riggedsloop |
| Mast length | 11.28 m (37.0 ft) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 25 m2 (270 sq ft) |
| Jib/genoa area | 16.3 m2 (175 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 76.4 m2 (822 sq ft) |
| Total sail area | 117.7 m2 (1,267 sq ft) |
TheF-27 Sport Cruiser is an Americantrailerabletrimaransailboat that was designed by New ZealanderIan Farrier in 1984–1985.[1][2][3][4]
The boat was built byCorsair Marine in theUnited States between 1986 and February 1997, with 450 examples completed. The F-27 was replaced in production by the derivative F-28 design, later designated as the Corsair 28.[1][4][5]
The F-27's concept started in 1973 in Australia when Farrier developed and patented the outrigger folding system that made the design possible. Ten years laterWal-Mart heirJohn T. Walton approached Farrier about designing a boat and setting up production in the United States. Farrier agreed to take on the project on the condition that he had control of all aspects of the enterprise from design to production. Walton agreed and so Farrier moved his family to the US in March 1984 and started work in the position of Vice President. A location was found inChula Vista, nearSan Diego, California andCorsair Marine was established.[1]
Corsair started with the construction of the fiberglass molds to complete the prototype F-27. The prototype was completed and launched in May 1985. It was namedSuperfox in honor of Farrier's previous boat, aTramp 19 namedFlying Fox. The prototype was successful and production molds were built. The factory was relocated to larger facilities in the same neighborhood, this time with 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) of floor space.[1]
Over the first few years, new production techniques, such asvacuum bag moulding, were introduced that increased efficiency and allowed more boats to be produced. In 1987 the factory was expanded to 27,000 sq ft (2,500 m2), by leasing the existing second half of the building and putting in an intervening door. In 1986 six boats were produced. This increased to 12 in 1987 and 33 in 1988. In 1989 the 100th boat was completed. A production peak was achieved in 1991, with 101 boats completed.[1]
Farrier left the company in 1991, conflicting with Walton over "growing concerns about company directions",[3] but having established production and wishing to move back to Australia to work on hisF-31 Sport Cruiser design. He re-established connections with the company once Corsair had been sold to Paul Koch in 1994, but severed all ties in 2000. Farrier described the relationship between himself and Corsair as "disappointing", but added "however, this takes nothing away from the F-27 and our joint achievements".[1]
The F-27 is a small recreational trimaran, built predominantly ofcarbon-fiber-reinforced polymer,fiberglass,Kevlar and foam. It has afractionalsloop rig, a transom-hungrudder and adaggerboardkeel. It displaces 2,600 lb (1,179 kg).[4]
All variants of the boat have a draft of 4.92 ft (1.50 m) with the centerboard extended and 1.17 ft (0.36 m) with it retracted, allowingbeaching or ground transportation on atrailer.[4]
The boat is normally fitted with a smalloutboard motor located in an aft deck well, for docking and maneuvering.[4]
The F-27 has ahull speed of 6.87 kn (12.72 km/h).[6]
The prototype F-27,Super Fox, was first raced by a two-man crew, consisting of Farrier and factory worker Corky Perry, in the 1985Two Man Around Catalina Race and won the race based on handicap, setting the course record.[9] The boat started last, but passed the entire monohull fleet on the first windward leg in 20 to 25 kn (37 to 46 km/h) winds. The boat also won the 1986 race in very light winds, crewed by Farrier and John Walton.[1]
The first F-27 ocean crossing was part of the 1987Trans Pac Race fromLong Beach, California toHawaii. It was completed by the F-27Killer Frog, owned and sailed by Mark Robson, with John Walton as crew. The boat averaged 8 kn (15 km/h) during the 12 day voyage. It covered 250 mi (402 km) on one day of the race.[1]
The firstAtlantic Ocean crossing was made by an F-27 namedOlijfe, owned by Adrian Went. It sailed fromCape Cod to theNetherlands viaEngland in 23 days.[1]
In 1990 two F-27s were sailed from the US mainland to Hawaii, one single-handedly.[1]
Also in 1990, the Australian Multihull Offshore Championships, was won by the F-27Aquatec, becoming the first trailerable multihull sailboat to win the seven-race series.[1]
In August 1990, F-27s became the first multihull sailboats invited to compete in theNational Offshore One Design Regatta held atNewport, Rhode Island.[1]
The second Atlantic crossing in an F-27 was in June 1991, by Dr. Werner Stolz and Roswitha Schadt.[3]
Farrier wrote, "While it is nice to know that the F-27 is seaworthy enough to cross oceans, it is a little small for this, and ocean crossing is not a recommended purpose."[1]
Two F-27s sailed in the 1993Miami-Key Largo race, averaging 18.2 kn (33.7 km/h) and 17.9 kn (33.2 km/h) over the 43 mi (69 km) race course.[1]
In January 1995Sail magazine named the F-27 as one of several boat designs that "had a significant and positive impact on sailing over the past 25 years".[1]
The F-27 was inducted into theAmerican Sailboat Hall of Fame on 29 January 2004.[1]
In 2016,Sailing magazine's technical editorBob Perry described the F-27 as "a great boat".[9]
Related development
Similar sailboats
