BoatsShannon Yachts 28

Shannon Yachts 28

Cutter · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · 1978–1985

A fin-keeled cutter with a transom-hung rudder, built for coastal cruising with a stiff 38% ballast ratio

Designed by Walter Shultz.

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

See her sail

The Shannon Yachts 28, on the water

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

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 29 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 29
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.81
LightHeavy

345 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 345
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.1
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Shannon Yachts 28, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Shannon Yachts 28 is an 8.5-meter cutter-rigged sailboat built by Shannon Boat Company from 1978 to 1985, designed by Walter Shultz. It features a fin keel with a transom-hung rudder and displaces 4218 kg. Walter Shultz founded Shannon Yachts in 1975 in Rhode Island to build durable, high-quality offshore cruising vessels.1:02 The Shannon 28 gained notoriety when Monk Furnham completed two single-handed Atlantic crossings in the boat at ages 72 and 76.0:16 The 28-footer utilizes a modified full keel with a skeg-mounted rudder for improved maneuverability.2:48 Shannon construction techniques include internally flanged, through-bolted hull-to-deck joints and extensive tabbing where bulkheads meet the hull.4:17 The design includes three removable, independent freshwater tanks.4:11 Current market prices for used Shannon 28s range from $50,000 to $100,000.5:10

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

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
38.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.1
Displacement / length
344.8
Comfort ratio
29.3
Capsize screening
1.81
Hull speed
6.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
778
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1978–1985
Units built
50
Designer
Walter Shultz
Builder
Shannon Boat Company

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.

Catalina Yachts 278.18 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA masthead sloop with 6,662 hulls produced over two decades, serving as a staple of coastal cruising since 1971
Ep# 27 Interview with Chris2:02from Sailing Into Oblivion
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
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Cascade Yachts 278.23 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by Robert A. Smith for balanced coastal cruising
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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
Colvic Ltd. Sailor 268.21 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA twin-keeled masthead sloop with hulls moulded by Colvic and finished by various yards, including Atlanta Marine
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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

The family

Boats like this

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

Shannon Yachts 38 PHA long-keeled cutter designed by Stadel for offshore stability, offering a comfortable motion and steady passage-makingShannon Yachts 38The inaugural model from Shannon Yachts, this long-keeled cutter was produced with optional pilot house configurationsShannon Yachts 37A masthead ketch featuring a keel-centerboard hull, refined from the Shannon 38 for offshore versatility

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