BoatsSunstar 28

Sunstar 28

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1981–1985

A masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, originally launched as the Cheetah 26

Designed by E. Monk, R. Perry & Edwin Monk Sr, built by Spencer Boats.

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 22 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 22
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.95
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 247
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 21.3
TenderStiff

37% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 37%

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
36.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.3
Displacement / length
246.9
Comfort ratio
21.6
Capsize screening
1.95
Hull speed
6.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
724
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1981–1985
Designer
E. Monk, R. Perry, Edwin Monk Sr
Builder
Spencer Boats

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.

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
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
Coronado Yachts 278.13 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA William Tripp Jr. design featuring a masthead sloop rig and fin keel, sharing a near-identical hull with the Columbia 27
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
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
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 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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