BoatsSpirit 28 (Van De Stadt)

Spirit 28 (Van De Stadt)

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1970

A Van de Stadt design #216 masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, once favored by the designer.

Designed by E. G. Van de Stadt, built by A. J. Van Heygen.

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

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 moderate beam gives 20 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.04
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 229
EasygoingPowered-up

21.7 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 21.7
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.7
Displacement / length
229.0
Comfort ratio
19.7
Capsize screening
2.04
Hull speed
6.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
746
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1970
Units built
284
Designer
E. G. Van de Stadt
Builder
A. J. Van Heygen

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Newport 27S8.23 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 1974 masthead sloop with a 1.3-meter draft, offering a stable fin-keel platform for shoal-water coastal cruising
Pearson Yachts 27 (Triton 27)8.23 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Doug Peterson-influenced masthead sloop built from US Yachts molds, offering a light-displacement cruiser profile
San Juan 288.74 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull
Jeanneau Aquila 278.70 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop offered in both standard and deep-keel Regatta configurations
Bristol Yachts 288.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IOR Half Ton racer with reduced stern overhang, serving as the performance-oriented predecessor to the Bristol 29.9
Coronado Yachts 278.13 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA William Tripp Jr. design featuring a masthead sloop rig and fin keel, sharing a near-identical hull with the Columbia 27

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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