BoatsLancer 28

Lancer 28

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1977–1985

A masthead sloop featuring a dropped cabin sole for extra headroom and an optional forward-stepped fractional rig

Designed by W. Shad Turner.

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.

Shoal draughtDraws 0.86 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 19 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 19
CoastalBluewater

1.89 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.89
LightHeavy

160 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 160
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.4
TenderStiff

45% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 45%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Draws less than ~96% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~87% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2048 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
44.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.4
Displacement / length
159.8
Comfort ratio
18.9
Capsize screening
1.89
Hull speed
6.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
684
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1977–1985
Designer
W. Shad Turner
Builder
Lancer

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.

Albin Marine AB Vega 278.25 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterScandinavia's most popular production yacht of her size, this 8.25-metre masthead sloop defined coastal cruising from 1965 to 1979
Hunter Marine 27-28.10 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 27-foot fractional sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal cruising
Jeanneau Aquila 278.70 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop offered in both standard and deep-keel Regatta configurations
Maxi Yachts Fenix 8.58.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1980s cruiser with a 1.5-metre bulb keel and spade rudder, designed for a balanced, stable coastal experience
Pearson Yachts 27 (Triton 27)8.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Doug Peterson-influenced masthead sloop built from US Yachts molds, offering a light-displacement take on IOR design
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

The family

Boats like this

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

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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