BoatsEricson Yachts 28+

Ericson Yachts 28+

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1980–1984

A Bruce King-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a stiff fin keel and spade rudder configuration

Designed by Bruce King.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Ericson Yachts 28+, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Maryland School of Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a beamy beam gives 20 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

2.15 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.15
LightHeavy

237 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 237
EasygoingPowered-up

17.1 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.1
TenderStiff

40% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 40%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

What the fleet has seen

The Ericson Yachts 28+, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Ericson Yachts 28+ is a Bruce King-designed fractional sloop built by Ericson Yachts from 1980 to 1984. It has an LOA of 8.7 m, a beam of 3.2 m, a draft of 1.5 m, and a displacement of 3401 kg. The '+' designation indicates the fractional rig version, though a masthead rig was also available. A shoal draft version with a 1.2 m draft was also produced.30:59 On the Chesapeake Bay, sailors prepare for summer squalls by furling headsails, double-reefing mainsails, and securing deck canvas, including Bimini frames.2:20 Sailing through squalls under a shortened rig, with the apparent wind at 50 degrees, helps maintain stability.4:54 Lightning during squalls can disable electronics, which can be mitigated by proper bonding and grounding of underwater metal parts, and by turning off electronics.17:38

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.1
Displacement / length
237.1
Comfort ratio
19.9
Capsize screening
2.15
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
907
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1980–1984
Units built
90
Designer
Bruce King
Builder
Ericson 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.

Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
The ONE Question That Changes Everything About Buying a Boat7:09from Be The Captain
Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising
EP#328 San Diego Sailing with Justin14:43from Sailing Into Oblivion
Cal 2-298.84 mSame hull family0.2 m longerAn upgraded cruising variant of the standard 29, featuring enhanced equipment and a masthead rig
Learning how to Solo Sail on a 2-29 Cal | SMLS S9E05from Sailing Miss Lone Star
Pearson Yachts 28-28.67 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William Shaw-designed masthead sloop featuring a fin keel and spade rudder, built as a modern successor to the original 28
Acorn to Arabella - Journey of a Wooden Boat - Bonus Content: The Good, The Bad and The Bronze0:04from Acorn To Arabella
Sabre Yachts 28-18.53 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Roger Hewson-designed masthead sloop featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a stiff 42% ballast ratio for coastal cruising
Dragon Dancing for a Happy New Year - Episode 330 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat11:12from Acorn To Arabella
Maxi Yachts 848.54 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 8.5-metre fin-keeler with a 45% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal sailing
Measuring sails for a Maxi 84 yacht0:42from practicalboatowner

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.

Ericson Yachts 28-2A 1986 fractional sloop featuring a shallow 1.22-meter draft and a competitive sail-area-to-displacement ratioEricson Yachts 30+A Bruce King-designed fractional sloop and updated successor to the 30-2, built for performance with a fin keel.Ericson Yachts 25+A Bruce King-designed fractional sloop balancing a 40% ballast ratio with a nimble fin keel for coastal performanceEricson Yachts 34-2A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop balancing performance and cruising comfort with a stiff, fin-keel hullEricson Yachts 29A 1970s masthead sloop with a 1.32-meter draft and a 45% ballast ratio, balancing coastal stability with shoal accessEricson Yachts 25A 1973-1978 masthead sloop with a transom-hung rudder and a 1.16-meter draft for versatile coastal exploration

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