Banner 28 Sailboats for Sale

What to Inspect

Because the Banner 28 was sold as a home-completion kit, some hulls left the yard as bare shells finished by amateur builders. At a viewing, establish whether the boat was yard-finished or owner-completed: look for uneven tabbing, nonstandard wiring, and inconsistent fastener patterns around bulkheads and chainplates. A home-finished example is not automatically flawed, but the burden of proof on construction quality sits with the seller. Beyond provenance, confirm the outboard bracket and transom reinforcement suit the 2 to 3 horsepower or 51 to 61 pound-thrust electric typical docking motor, since an oversized unit stresses a light hull. Check the fractional rig's halyards and sheets for the stated 5/16- and 3/8-inch diameters and 100-foot halyard lengths, as mixed or undersized running gear is common on sailed boats. Inspect the four berths and surrounding joinery for signs of amateur completion work, and verify the 215-square-foot wetted surface below shows no undocumented repair. The 4.43 to 4.73 foot fin keel should be checked for fair joint lines and unchanged draft under load. Also confirm the 52 percent ballast ratio feels present in a settled, level trim at rest and that the 2.89 length-to-beam hull shows no hull-deck separation along the sheer. The 6.0-knot theoretical limit need not be tested, but the 672 pounds-per-inch immersion should be evident in minimal squat under crew weight.

Buyer's Takeaway

• Confirm yard versus home completion before negotiating
• Inspect transom and outboard mount for overpower signs
• Verify rigging diameters against original 5/16- and 3/8-inch spec
• Check keel-hull joint on the fin for damage