BoatsHunter Marine 28

Hunter Marine 28

Fractional Sloop · Wing Keel · 1989–1994

A shoal-draft wing-keel cruiser updated from the 28.5, designed for stability and ease of access to shallow waters

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Wing Keel

See her sail

The Hunter Marine 28, on the water

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

Footage from All About Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

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

Shoal draughtDraws 1.14 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

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

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.16
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 234
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.9
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

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

  • Draws less than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2120 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Hunter Marine 28, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Hunter Marine 28 is a fractional sloop with a wing keel, built by Hunter Marine from 1989 to 1994, measuring 8.5 meters LOA with a 3.2-meter beam and 1.1-meter draft. It displaces 3356 kg and updates the earlier Hunter 28.5 design. Hunter Marine, founded in 1973, became the second-largest American sailboat manufacturer, known for applying high-volume production to cruising boats and later adopting the B&R rig to prioritize interior volume and ease of handling.0:08 The brand received multiple Cruising World Boat of the Year awards but faced criticism for structural hardware issues, particularly chain plate corrosion, and sluggish performance in heavy seas.6:19

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
37.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.9
Displacement / length
234.0
Comfort ratio
19.7
Capsize screening
2.16
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
907
Hull
Hull type
Wing Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1989–1994
Builder
Hunter Marine

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.

Watkins Yachts 278.23 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offered in rare pilot house and keel-centerboard configurations
Bahamas for $5000? The Watkins 27 foot Sailboat0:47from Practical Sailor
Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 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 family0.2 m longerA 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
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
TOP 3 Small Sailboats You Can Sail AROUND THE WORLD! Ep 331 - Lady K sailing10:23from Lady K Sailing
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 take on IOR design
Replacing Cloudy Dodger Windows for Under $200:01from Atom Voyager
Newport 27S8.23 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 1974 masthead sloop with a 1.3-metre draft, offering a stable fin-keel platform for shoal-water coastal cruising
Live On A Cheap and Small Sailboat! The Newport 27from Practical Sailor

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Hunter Marine 28.5A nimble B&R rigged cruiser featuring a high ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for efficient coastal performanceHunter Marine 30-2A 9.17-metre fractional sloop featuring a wing keel, built between 1988 and 1992 for coastal cruisingHunter Marine 280A B&R rigged cruiser designed by Rob Mazza, featuring a spade rudder and an optional shoal-draft wing keelHunter Marine 27-2A 27-foot fractional sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal cruisingHunter Marine 26.5A fractional sloop with a shallow-draft wing keel designed for stability and easy handling in coastal waters

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