Cavalier 28 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

28' · 8.53 m

Disp.

9,000 lbs · 4,082 kg

First year

1975

The Cavalier 28 stands as a definitive example of the "pocket cruiser" evolution that occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Designed by the esteemed naval architect Laurie Davidson—whose later fame would be cemented by his winning America’s Cup designs—the Cavalier 28 was conceived to offer a more sophisticated sailing experience than the trailersailers of the era, without the high overhead of a 35foot yacht. Built primarily in New Zealand and later under license in Australia, the model successfully balanced the requirements of a competitive club racer with the interior volume necessary for family coastal cruising. It remains a staple of the secondhand market in the South Pacific, prized for its robust fiberglass construction and a design pedigree that prioritized balanced helm response and upwind efficiency.