Design and Construction
Andersson’s design pairs a 28-foot overall length with a 23.3-foot waterline and a beam just over nine feet, giving a length-to-beam ratio of 3.01 that reads as moderately beamy without sacrificing the slenderness a fin keel wants. The solid fiberglass hull carries 2,976 pounds of iron ballast in a fin keel, a 44 percent ballast ratio that sits at the upper end for a boat of this size and helps explain her steady, predictable behavior when heeled. With a displacement of roughly 6,834 pounds and a displacement-length ratio of 241, she is no lightweight racer but a properly weighted coastal cruiser whose 21.7 Motion Comfort Ratio suggests a settled motion in a seaway rather than a lively one. The capsize screening value of 1.96 places her firmly in the coastal-cruiser band rather than the offshore-survival category. A notable production wrinkle is that some Compis 28s were sold as home-completed kits, meaning finished-boat quality can vary hull to hull and a buyer should judge each example on its own merits rather than assuming yard-standard uniformity.
Rig and Handling
The Compis 28 is a masthead sloop carrying a reference sail area of about 344 square feet, which yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.0 with the standard reference sail and 18.1 once a 135 percent genoa is hoisted. That places her rig among the more generous of her peers — she carries more sail than 46 percent of comparable sailboats — and the relative speed performance figure of 54 reflects a design that moves willingly for her size. Her wetted surface of about 247 square feet is moderate, and the theoretical hull speed of 6.5 knots is within reach under sail in a fresh breeze. The standing and running rigging follow period norms: halyards for main, genoa, and spinnaker all run about 78 feet at 5/16-inch diameter, while sheets are 3/8-inch with jib and genoa sheets at just over 28 feet and the mainsheet at 70 feet. A transom-hung rudder and fin keel give her a draft of roughly 4.95 to 5.25 feet depending on load, shallow enough to tuck into most marinas yet deep enough to hold her own to windward.
Accommodations
Below, the Compis 28 is fitted with five berths, a galley, a toilet facility, and fresh-water capacity of 65 liters with a separate 100 liters of waste-water capacity — the latter a thoughtful touch for a boat this size that eases holding-tank logistics at visited harbors. The layout is functional rather than expansive, suited to a small family or two couples on a coastal hop. The 17-gallon fresh-water figure and modest stowage reflect her role as a weekender, not a long-range cruiser.
Power and Propulsion
The specified power is an inboard Yanmar YSE diesel of 8 horsepower, turning a shaft drive and pushing the boat at a steady 6.0 knots under power. Fuel capacity is a minimal 22 liters, so the engine is best regarded as an auxiliary for harbor exits and calm days rather than a primary means of travel. The small tank and modest horsepower are consistent with a boat whose real purpose is sail-driven coastal passage.
The Verdict
The Compis 28 is a well-balanced small coastal sloop from the late-Sixties Swedish school: beamy enough for comfort, heavily ballasted for steadiness, and generously rigged for her size. The home-completion history is the one caveat, demanding careful individual inspection, but the core design is coherent and seaworthy within its coastal brief.
Pros
- High 44 percent ballast ratio with iron fin keel for predictable handling
- Generous sail plan relative to peers (more rig than 46 percent of similar boats)
- Separate 100-liter waste-water capacity unusual in this size class
- Shallow-enough draft to enter most marinas
Cons
- Home-completed examples mean variable build quality
- Minimal 22-liter fuel capacity limits auxiliary range
- Coastal-cruiser capsize screening (1.96) rather than offshore-rated
