Cape Dory 28 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Carl Alberg faced a familiar constraint in a slender 28-foot sloop: how to gain interior volume without abandoning the look his followers expected. He left the bow overhang intact while dramatically trimming the stern, a compromise that gave the Cape Dory 28 a longer waterline and increased speed potential even if it softened the sheer's visual purity. The hull itself is solid fiberglass in polyester resin, and the decks are a sandwich cored with either marine plywood or balsa, a construction scheme consistent with Cape Dory's reputation in the 1970s and 1980s for ruggedly built boats. A sturdy bowsprit supports an anchor roller and extends the forestay outward, providing more room for a genoa, while the long cabintrunk and four uniform portals per side lend the boat its traditional, seagoing appearance.

The full keel carries 3,500 pounds of lead ballast and is paired with a keel-hung rudder, a profile completed by heavy-duty hardware throughout and bronze through-hull seacocks. A bridgedeck was installed in the cockpit approximately four years after production began, and most later models carry this feature, which prevents water from entering the cabin. The cockpit itself comfortably accommodates four and connects via easily navigable side decks to a fair-sized foredeck. Teak grabrails and eyebrows accentuate the fine proportions, and the graceful sheer sweeps forward from a counter stern to the teak bowsprit.

Rig and Handling

Original models sailed with tiller steering and a self-tending, club-footed jib that allowed the boat to be handled with minimal crew, complemented by a jiffy-reefing mainsail for straightforward short-handed sailing. The mast is deck-stepped, 42 feet of aluminum secured by heavy-gauge standing rigging, and the mainsheet attaches at the aft end of the cockpit so it stays clear of crew activity. Owners note that the shrouds and fittings are oversized for a vessel of this size, a reassuring detail for anyone planning coastal or offshore passages.

Under sail, the full keel with attached rudder helps the boat track downwind and point nicely to windward. Writing in Cruising World, a longtime owner described Innisfree as stiff, surprisingly quick in light wind, extremely capable in heavy air, and a sheer joy off the wind; she balanced well and tracked perfectly, plowing through Chesapeake chop with all her momentum. Despite the 9,000-pound displacement, the boat moves easily in light winds over 10 knots with the club-footed jib.

Accommodations

Below, teak is used throughout, with solid teak and teak veneer abundant in the joinery. The boat sleeps five: a V-berth in the bow with a cushioned plywood insert to create a double, an adjacent head to port, and a wet hanging locker to starboard. The saloon features a starboard settee that serves as a single berth and a port settee that slides out to a double, with narrow shelves above for books and storage behind the seatbacks. A teak table swings down from the bulkhead and unfolds between the settees. Headroom is 6 feet 2 inches in the cabin, though the saloon itself has about 6 feet; two opening hatches overhead keep air moving.

The galley is aft and bisected by the companionway, with a spacious icebox and stainless sink to starboard and an alcohol or propane stove to port. The boat carries 60 gallons of fresh water in two 30-gallon tanks beneath the settees, and the fuel tank holds 32 gallons, built as either steel or aluminum. The head is forward of the saloon and contains a hanging wet locker and small sink; a folding door separates it from the V-berth.

Known Issues

Deck delamination is always a possibility on older boats, and the Cape Dory 28 is no exception given its sandwich deck construction. Owners report that the internally fastened chainplates are cast iron, which creates problems of rust and corrosion, though they are at least accessible from the interior for inspection. A jib stay with a bronze cast fitting on the stem should be watched for problems, and the plastic portals installed between 1974 and 1978 were of inferior quality. On the fuel side, steel tanks can rust and weaken while aluminum tanks, sitting in direct contact with a plywood base, can begin to pit. One further detail from the accommodation plan: the head sink drains into a fiberglass trough, then into the bilge, and the marine toilet is installed below the waterline.

Refits and Ownership

Several owners have replaced the Volvo engine with Beta Marine or Kubota diesels and report much quieter operation, a common upgrade given the original 13-horsepower Volvo Penta MD7A. Many owners also eliminate the club-footed jib in favor of a roller-furling genoa, claiming better sail trim, though the original rig's self-tending character is missed by some singlehanders. Engine access requires removing the companionway stairs, which buys just enough room for a small person to ease over the top of the engine.

The Verdict

The Cape Dory 28 stands as a considered expression of Carl Alberg's design values in a manageable size: a heavily built, full-keel cruiser with genuine offshore temperament, practical accommodations for a family of five, and a rig that rewards short-handed sailing. Its weaknesses are those of its era and construction type rather than fundamental flaws, and a careful survey of deck core, chainplates, and tanks will surface the only real risks.

Pros

Rugged solid-fiberglass hull with bronze seacocks and oversized rigging for the size
Full keel with lead ballast tracks well and points nicely under sail
Self-tending club-footed jib and jiffy reefing enable minimal-crew handling
Teak-rich interior with five berths and practical 60-gallon water capacity

Cons