BoatsRanger 28

Ranger 28

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1976–1978

A Gary Mull design with clear IOR influence, featuring a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance

Designed by Gary Mull, built by Bangor Punta.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

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

Comfort ratio 16
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.23
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 223
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 21.1
TenderStiff

55% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 55%

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
55.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.1
Displacement / length
222.9
Comfort ratio
16.4
Capsize screening
2.23
Hull speed
6.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
742
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1976–1978
Units built
130
Designer
Gary Mull
Builder
Bangor Punta

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 family0.3 m shorterScandinavia's most popular production yacht of her size, this 8.25-metre masthead sloop defined coastal cruising from 1965 to 1979
Top 5 Overbuilt Sailboats That Will Outlive Your Grandchildren1:41from Knot Your Average Boat
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
5 Overbuilt Hulls Proving You Don't Need a $500,000 Yacht4:53from Knot Your Average Boat
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
Sailing Savvy: How to Build a Winning Team with Jon Sverre Høiden12:45from SEILmagasinet
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
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
Salt & Tar: Ep.170- Ocean Medicine0:52from Salt & Tar
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
A little bonus episode14:04from Sailing Magic Carpet

The family

Boats like this

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

Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)A 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruisingRanger Yachts 37A 1972 masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder and a ballast ratio of 48% for stability in offshore conditionsRanger Yachts 33A fin-keeled masthead sloop with a spade rudder, designed for a balance of club racing speed and cruising utilityRanger Yachts 23Designed to rate at the IOR 18-foot level, this masthead sloop offered an optional tall rig starting in 1974Ranger Yachts 32An IOR 3/4 ton racer derived from the Swampfire design that claimed victory at the inaugural 1974 3/4 Ton CupRanger Yachts 26 (Mull)A 1969-1975 production masthead sloop featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive coastal handling

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Ranger 28

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