Levi Corsair 27 ft Express Cruiser 2002

The Levi Corsair is a classic express cruiser designed by Renato 'Sonny' Levi and featuring his famous race-bred deep-V hull. This boat has breathtaking maneuverability, soft-riding comfort and is fitted with two recently off boat major serviced Volvo KAD43 diesel engines giving a top speed of 45 knots. Below deck, the bathroom and the galley are lavishly fitted out with marble surfaces and highly polished black granite, as well as rich African walnut joinerwork. The attention to detail and understated elegance are a definite trade-mark of the Levi Boat Company. ZEST has been 'dry sailed' from under cover storage in current ownership and is very much ready for the season.

"People talk about Sonny Levi hulls with a kind of hushed reverence, and sometimes you wonder: well, does it really live up to that? You know what: it really does. You can get faster boats; you can get more efficient boats; you certainly can get bigger more expensive ones. But will you have more fun in them?" ~ Hugo Andreae, Editor, Motor Boat & Yachting

2023-2024
- Antifouled and polished
- Re-varnished externally

2022-2023
MAJOR OFF-BOAT ENGINES AND DRIVES BENCH REFIT
- Both engines and drives removed from boat
- All engine ancillaries removed, inspected
- Re-sprayed with thick layer of corrosion resistant paint
- Oil and water coolers stripped, cleaned, serviced, painted
- 2 x New turbos
- 2 x New exhaust elbows
- New belts
- Many new pulleys
- New belt tensioners
- 1 x New mechanical fuel pump
- New electrical units
- New throttle and gear cables
- New hydraulic steering pipes
- New power steering pump
- 1 x New supercharger pulley
- 2 x New electronic control box
- 2 x New starter motors
- 2 x New alternators
- Full service
- Drives both striped, serviced, rebuilt
- New stainless Dual Props
- Transom shields stripped, serviced, paint removed, primed, repainted
- New rubbers installed
- Engine bay thoroughly cleaned and resprayed

“I was striving after something new and different. I wished to produce a purposeful, good-looking boat which would be capable of negotiating rough seas at high speed with a reasonable degree of comfort.” ~ Renato 'Sonny' Levi'

From Renato 'Sonny' Levi's portfolio of pioneering, fast, efficient, and timelessly good looking race-bred powerboat designs, it's impressive that his family chose the Corsair to keep the Levi flame alive in the 21st Century.

The Levi Corsair is one of a number of variations on the theme of his 1961 30-footer 'A SPERANZIELLA, the first Levi constant 'Deep-V" hull type to make his name after early 1960s wins in the Viareggio-Bastia and Cowes-Torquay Races.

The Corsair model began life in 1964 as the 'Levi 27'. The prototype and laminated wood mould, INERTIA, was commissioned by future Sunseeker designer Don Shead's father, Bert, and Don in partnership with John Dalton had the early customised GRP version ALTO VOLANTE finished with a very low profile deck moulding and more powerful than normal Ford Interceptor engines.

The early batch of Corsairs - including former Royal London YC Commodore Farrant Gillham's eponymous CORSAIR, winner of the <23 ft LWL Concours d'Elegance prize in the 1964 and 1965 editions of Cowes-Torquay - was moulded by Viking Marine of Gosport and finished at Cowes by David Cheverton. It was a short production run, but the boat gained almost mythical status for its ability to smoothly run at high speeds over typically choppy, wind over tide Solent and English Channel waters, while also functioning well as a family cruiser - and looking great. Sonny Levi wrote: "In my opinion the 'Levi 27' is an outstandingly good-looking boat..."

In the revived production, from 2000, the Levi Boat Company of Italy sensibly didn't meddle with Sonny Levi's basic concept and external styling, but brought cockpit and interior levels of finish and comfort up to a very high and modern standard. And the boat of course benefits from the reliable power offered by modern compact and light weight diesel engines and drives.

This second generation Corsair has been in production for over 20 years. The Sonny Levi flame burns well.

©2024 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.

GRP/ GRP PVC Foam Sandwich

GENERAL
- Painted non-slip deck finish
- Varnished mahogany toerail

FROM AFT
- Stainless steel and raw teak grating swim platform
- Chromed stern light
- Cockpit coaming
- Chromed ensign staff socket
- Chromed engine space vents port and starboard
- Chromed mooring cleats port and starboard

COCKPIT
- Aft upholstered seating over engine space
- Upholstered backrests
- Laid teak on laminate sole
- 3 x Flush locker hatches
- Helm seat to starboard; identical seat to port
- Foot rests port and starboard
- Levi-badged wheel
- Dash at helm; engine controls and gauges
- Raymarine chart plotter
- Morse throttles
- VHF Radio
- Small locker and stainless steel grab rail to port
- Double louvred teak companionway doors
- Strut controlled laminate lifting hatch
- Wrap round smoked windscreen
- Bimini / sprayhood with stainless steel frame
- Swim shower

COACHROOF
- Raked wooden mast; nav lights and antennae
- 2 x Stainless steel Vetus type deck vents
- Teak and chromed grab rails port and starboard
- 2 x Windows port, starboard and forward

FOREDECK
- Circular alloy and smoked acrylic hatch
- Stainless steel pulpit
- 2 x Door flush hatch over chain locker
- Chromed mooring cleats port and starboard

GROUND TACKLE
- Lofrans Progress 1 Windlass
- Stainless steel Bruce type anchor
- Anchor stowed in stainless steel launcher
- Up and down anchor controls
- Stainless steel swivel
- Stainless steel chain

GENERAL
- Open plan cabin with twin V-berths
- Teak and holly sole
- Veneered African walnut finish
- Downlights in deckhead

FROM AFT
- 2 x steps down from companionway
- Courtesy lights

WC / SHOWER COMPARTMENT TO PORT
- Electric toilet
- Raw teak grating shower well
- Marble top surface
- Sliding doors locker outboard
- Ceramic inset sink
- Mixer tap
- Self stowing shower head
- Towel rail
- Downlights in deckhead

DINETTE/ SEATING/ BERTH AREA TO STARBOARD
- Fore and aft facing upholstered seats
- Table
- Table lowers to become berth base
- Lockers under and outboard

GALLEY TO PORT
- Black marble top
- Sliding doors locker outboard
- Ceramic inset sink
- Mixer tap
- Lockers under

V-BERTHS FORWARD
- Stowage under
- Lockers port and starboard
- Speaker port and starboard
- Circular hatch in deckhead

MECHANICAL
- Major off boat bench engine service 2022-2023 (see REFITS)
- 2 x Volvo KAD43 Turbo/ super charged diesels 245 hp each
- 2 x Volvo Penta outdrives
- 2 x Pairs 19 in Solas stainless steel Dual Props (2023)
- 2 x Trim tabs

ELECTRICAL
- Starting batteries (2023)
- House batteries (2023)
- 220 V Shore power socket

TANKAGE
- Fuel capacity 119 Gal / 540 L
- Water capacity 44 Gal / 200 L

NAVIGATION
- Raytheon chart plotter
- Ritchie high speed compass
- VDO analogue / digital speed log
- VDO analogue / digital depth sounder

COMMUNICATIONS
- ICOM VHF radio

- Fire extinguisher in cockpit
- Auto fire extinguisher in engine space
- Bilge pumps

- Mooring lines
- Fenders