Design and Construction
The Evasion 28 was built by Beneteau, with André Bénéteau credited as designer. Its hull is solid fibreglass while the deck is balsa-cored, and the boat carries a fixed long keel with a keel-mounted rudder. At 9,480 lb displacement and 3,086 lb of cast iron ballast, the 27.89-foot hull draws just 4.10 feet, a shoal profile consistent with its protected-water and coastal intent. The manufacturer's own heritage language calls the boat powerful, stiff, and stable on its journey, and the same source praises its upwind ability and performance in light winds — claims that square with the 32.55 ballast-displacement ratio and a long-keel form built for steadiness rather than snap turns. Construction and layout were plainly oriented toward safety and practicality rather than race-derived minimalism.
Rig and Handling
Above the deck-stepped mast, the Evasion 28 carries a fractional sloop rig with one set of unswept spreaders, aluminium spars, and continuous stainless steel wire standing rigging. Steering is unusual for the era: a wheel in the wheelhouse complements a tiller in the cockpit, giving the helm a sheltered command post in foul weather and an open-air option when conditions invite it. The long keel and attached rudder favor directional stability over quick pivot; combined with the 6.24-knot hull speed and a comfort-oriented 31.05 comfort ratio, the boat reads as a steady, forgiving coastal cruiser. Period and builder assessments agree she is known for stability and stiffness and performs well both upwind and in light winds, suiting sailors who value predictability over adrenaline.
Accommodations
Inside, the Evasion 28 is laid out for extended cruises rather than weekend racing. Sleeps are provided for four: a double and a single berth in the main salon plus an aft quarter berth to starboard. The galley sits on the port side of the wheelhouse with a two-burner stove and sink, and a navigation station faces it across the cabin. The head is forward in the bow, and cabin headroom runs a generous 72 inches for a 28-foot design. The interior arrangement — wheelhouse galley and nav station, bow head, and quarter berth — reflects the boat's comfort during extended cruises and its motorsailer brief of merging sailing-yacht habits with motor-cruiser ease.
Equipment and Power
A Volvo MD11C diesel moves the Evasion 28 under power, backed by a 23.8-US-gallon fuel tank and 52.8 gallons of fresh water. The dual steering stations and wheelhouse make the diesel's auxiliary role central to the concept: this is a boat meant to motor through a calm or a chokepoint and sail when the wind cooperates. Tankage is modest but adequate for the boat's size and coastal-passage remit, and the balsa-cored deck helps temper cabin noise from that auxiliary.
The Verdict
The Evasion 28 is a small, limited-production French motorsailer that delivers a surprising amount of cabin comfort and a genuinely good sail in a 123-boat run. Its long keel and shoal draft trade agility for steadiness, and the wheelhouse wheel plus cockpit tiller give rare flexibility. For the sailor wanting a stable, easy-going cruiser with four berths and a sheltered helm, it rewards; for anyone chasing sparkling performance or easy slipway haulouts on a fin-keeled hull, it will not.
Pros
- Stiff, stable, and effective upwind and in light air per builder description
- Wheelhouse wheel and cockpit tiller for sheltered or open steering
- Comfortable four-berth interior with bow head and 72-inch headroom
- Long keel and 4.10-foot draft suit cautious coastal and longer passages
Cons
- Only 123 built, limiting spares-network familiarity
- Fixed long keel restricts maneuverability versus fin-keel contemporaries
- Balsa-cored deck demands moisture vigilance absent from solid hull
