Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 boat specs
Nautic Africa
Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020
2020
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VS
Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 boat specs
Nautic Africa
Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020
2020
View full specs →

Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 vs Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 vs Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 measures 88,5 feet overall (2020), giving it roughly 27,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 at 60,6 feet (2020). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 tips the scales at 114 640 lbs — 55 116 lbs less than the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 at 59 524 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 800 hp, the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 has a 602-hp advantage over the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020's 198-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 carries 925 gallons versus 528 gallons in the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 is rated for 26 passengers, while the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 caps at 18. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 26 passengers and at 88,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 18 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail60.60 ft
Length overall - Detail88.50 ft
Length - Feet60.6
Length - Feet88.5
Length overall - Meters18.47
Length overall - Meters26.97
Length overall - Inches727
Length overall - Inches1062
Beam14.70 ft
Beam26.20 ft
Beam - Meters4.48
Beam - Meters7.99
Beam - Inches176
Beam - Inches314
Draft [max] - Detail3.10 ft
Draft [max] - Detail3.10 ft
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Inches37
Draft [max] - Inches37
Displacement59524.00 lbs
Displacement114640.00 lbs
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal924.6
Fuel tank capacity - Gal528.3
Fuel tank capacity - Liters3499.99
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1999.83
Engine makeVolvo
Engine makeVolvo Penta
Engine modelD13-8
Engine modelD7A TA
Horsepower800 hp
Horsepower198 hp
Engine 2 Engine MakeVolvo
Engine 2 Engine MakeVolvo Penta
Engine 2 Engine ModelD13-8
Engine 2 Engine ModelD7A TA
Engine 2 Horsepower800 hp
Engine 2 Horsepower198 hp
Performance
Cruising speed24
Cruising speed12
Cruising speed measureknots
Cruising speed measureknots
Maximum speed30
Maximum speed13
Maximum speed measureknots
Maximum speed measureknots
Operational Info
Water capacity132
Water capacity132
Holding tank capacity - Gal132
Holding tank capacity - Gal132
Holding tank capacity - Liters499.67
Holding tank capacity - Liters499.67
Boat typePower
Boat typePower

Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 vs Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 or the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020?
The Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 is the longer of the two at 88,5 feet overall. The Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 comes in at 60,6 feet, making it roughly 27,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 or the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020?
For trailering, the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 has the edge at 59 524 lbs dry weight versus 114 640 lbs for the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 is rated to a maximum of 800 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 tops out at 198 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 is Coast Guard rated for 18 passengers, while the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 is certified for 26. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 measures 314" wide, compared to 176" for the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 or the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020?
The Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 has the bigger tank at 925 gallons, versus 528 gallons on the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020. That 396-gallon difference translates to roughly 1188–1981 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 and Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Nautic Africa 17M Sentinel 2020 and the Nautic Africa 27M Ferry 2020 are built by Nautic Africa. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.