Hotfoot 27

Description

The Hotfoot 27 is a Canadian ultralight, high-performance fractional-rig racer/cruiser designed by Steve Killing and built by Hotfoot Boats (later Ontario Yachts) from 1982 to the early 1990s, with fewer than 40 hulls produced. At 27 feet LO962A with an 8-foot 11-inch beam and an astonishingly low displacement of just 2,800 lbs (roughly half that of a J/27), it features a fin keel with a lead bulb drawing 5 feet 3 inches, a tall triple-spreader rig carrying 460 sq ft upwind (square-top main + 110% jib), and a huge asymmetrical spinnaker flown from a retractable carbon sprit. Its narrow waterline, dramatically flared topsides, open-transom cockpit, and tiller steering give it blistering acceleration and the ability to plane on reaches in 12–15 knots, making it one of the fastest monohulls of its size in the 1980s. Below, it offers a surprisingly usable interior with four full-length berths, a small galley, and an enclosed head—enough for weekending yet stripped-out enough to remain competitive under PHRF (typical ratings 90–108). Still prized by speed addicts on the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest, the Hotfoot 27 remains a cult classic for sailors who want Mumm 30-level performance in a trailerable, 27-foot package.