Cape Dory 28
Masthead Sloop · Full Keel · 1974–1988
A classic Carl Alberg full-keel masthead sloop designed for steady, comfortable cruising
Designed by Carl Alberg.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Full Keel
See her sail
The Cape Dory 28, on the water
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from Sam Holmes Sailing
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
LivelyComfort 32Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 1.71Bluewater
LightD/L 367Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 15.0Powered-up
TenderBallast 39%Stiff
Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.
The living fleet
Sailed by the fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.
On the water
The Cape Dory 28 on video
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.0
Displacement / length
366.7
Comfort ratio
31.7
Capsize screening
1.71
Hull speed
6.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
704
Hull
Hull type
Full Keel
Construction
FG solid lamine hull/ cored deck.
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1974–1988
Units built
388
Designer
Carl Alberg
Builder
Cape Dory Yachts
Boats like this, on the water
More boats like her, on the water
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
Alberg 309.22 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA 25-year production classic with a heavy displacement-to-length ratio that remains a capable choice for offshore passages
Vancouver 278.23 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Robert B. Harris-designed cutter with a long keel, built across two continents to provide a stiff, comfortable passage
Pacific Seacraft Dana 248.31 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA heavy-displacement W.I.B. Crealock cutter designed for offshore stability and serious coastal cruising
Cape Dory 30C9.21 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA cutter-rigged cruiser with a full keel and a 1.27-metre draft, built for steady performance between 1976 and 1987
Pacific Seacraft Orion 279.42 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA heavy-displacement cutter designed by Henry Mohrschladt for offshore stability and traditional long-keel handling
Sea Sprite 309.20 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA 9.2-metre cruiser with a 41% ballast ratio, delivering a stiff and steady motion for coastal passages
The family
Related models
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
Cape Dory 27A 1977-1985 production masthead sloop featuring a 40% ballast ratio for stability in a traditional full-keel hullCape Dory 32A short-run 1986-1988 masthead sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, designed for steady, traditional cruisingCape Dory 31A Carl Alberg-designed cutter with a long keel, built between 1983 and 1985 for traditional, steady offshore cruisingCape Dory 33A 1980s production masthead sloop with a 41% ballast ratio, occasionally factory-fitted with a Volvo diesel
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