Masthead Sloop · Modified Full Keel · 1977–1985
A Ron Swanson-designed masthead sloop with a modified full keel, built for stability and steady cruising
Designed by Ron Swanson.
See her sail
The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.
Footage from SEILmagasinet
Is it for you?
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
Her moderate displacement on a beamy beam gives 22 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.
2.02 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.
220 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.
17.2 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.
29% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.
A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.
What the fleet has seen
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Swanson 28 is a masthead sloop designed by Ron Swanson and built by Swanson Brothers from 1977 to 1985. This 8.5-meter sailboat features a modified full keel and a double-ended hull. It has a beam of 3.0 meters, a draft of 1.4 meters, and displaces 3499 kg.
The living fleet
Where the fleet has filmed this boat.
The record
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Boats like this, 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.
The family
Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.
Keep asking
Search what's been said about the Swanson 28, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.
The newsletter
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