BoatsMirage 28 (Kelley)

Mirage 28 (Kelley)

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1980

An MORC-optimised racer offered in both fractional and masthead tall rig configurations for versatile performance

Designed by Bruce Kelley.

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 19 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 19
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.08
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 221
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.6
TenderStiff

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

Ballast 44%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.6
Displacement / length
220.5
Comfort ratio
18.6
Capsize screening
2.08
Hull speed
6.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
732
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1980
Designer
Bruce Kelley
Builder
Mirage Mfg

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.

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
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
Newport 27S8.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 1974 masthead sloop with a 1.3-metre draft, offering a stable fin-keel platform for shoal-water coastal cruising
Com-Pac Yachts 258.59 mSame hull family0.2 m longerOriginally the Watkins 25, this masthead sloop features a shallow 0.76m draft and a fin keel for versatile cruising
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
San Juan 288.74 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull

The family

Boats like this

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

Keep looking

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