Cal 28-2 Buyer's Guide
The Cal 28 Mk II is a 28-foot cruiser-racer built by Lear Siegler Marine under the Cal Boats name from 1985 to 1987, with roughly 50 to 100 examples produced. Designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates as a later evolution of the 1960s Jensen Marine Cal 28, she targets coastal cruising and club racing rather than offshore work. For a shopper scanning the used market, her short build run means patience is required, but the specification record is unusually complete.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Cal 28 Mk II shares the same Hunt-designed hull: solid fiberglass construction, a fixed fin keel with optional shoal draft, and a spade rudder. The boat was developed for small families or couples, with improved accommodations over the original Cal 28. A 28-foot length with a 10.67-foot beam and 40 gallons of water capacity describes a compact coastal interior, not a voyaging layout. Because the production run was only two years, you are not choosing between generations — any example afloat is fundamentally the same boat in configuration.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, hot water, a bimini, and a dodger are commonly fitted, making basic live-aboard comfort a usual expectation rather than a rarity. Beyond that baseline, a buyer should regard air conditioning, solar panels, a spinnaker, and an autopilot as less common — these appear as owner upgrades rather than factory standard equipment. A spinnaker on a particular boat matches the downwind sail inventory of up to 681 square feet, but its inclusion should be verified against the actual sail count and condition.
What to Inspect
The capsize screening value of 2.21 confirms a coastal design, so inspect for wear consistent with inshore use rather than offshore abuse. Verify the keel configuration — standard or shoal draft — since both were offered, and confirm the rigging matches the 89.6-foot halyards and 3/8-inch sheets.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Cal 28 Mk II is found in the United States market. Given the limited production, a buyer should prioritize a clean rig and confirmed keel type over added creature comforts.
- Confirm standard vs. shoal fin keel
- Check for commonly fitted hot water, bimini, dodger
- Treat solar, autopilot, A/C, spinnaker as owner upgrades
- Verify masthead rigging lengths and diameters against spec
- Expect a coastal boat, not an ocean racer
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cal 28-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 8 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $4,150 | — |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $18,000 | +333.7% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $24,995 | +38.9% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $18,000 | -28.0% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $7,500 | -58.3% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $7,499 | -0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $20,000 | +166.7% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $18,000 | -10.0% |
Where they're listed
Cal 28-2 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 7.
Country view
7 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $18,000 | 7 | 2 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 28 | 28.5' | $ 25,000 | 38 | 7 |
| Sabre 28-2 | 28.42' | $ 14,500 | 15 | 7 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 17,943 | 15 | 5 |
| Ericson 28-2 | 28' | $ 16,800 | 9 | 2 |
| CAL 28-2You are here | — | $ 18,000 | 7 | 2 |