Design and Construction
Peterson, known for his successful racing yachts, gave the Contessa 28 a sleek profile with low freeboard, a long bow overhang, and a reverse transom.
The solid fiberglass hull was hand-laid with woven rovings and chopped strand mat, then reinforced with stringers and bonded-in bulkheads. The deck is a balsa-cored fiberglass sandwich, which adds stiffness and insulation. It joins the hull at an inward flange, bolted and bonded with sealant.
A molded non-skid pattern provides traction on deck. Teak handrails, toe rails, and trim offset the white gelcoat, blue cove stripe, and boot top. Below the waterline, a cast-iron fin keel carries 2,800 pounds of ballast and is secured with stainless-steel bolts. The fiberglass spade rudder is mounted on a stainless-steel stock and hangs from two pintles and gudgeons.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Contessa 28 carries a straightforward, efficient single-spreader masthead sloop rig. Its aluminum mast is deck-stepped on a stainless tabernacle, allowing the mast to be lowered for bridges or canals. The aluminum boom has slab reefing with two reef points, and the loose-footed mainsail is easy to trim.
Roller furling on the forestay allows the crew to reef or furl the genoa from the cockpit. An adjustable backstay tensioner controls mast bend.
With 365 square feet of sail and a displacement of 6,970 pounds, the boat has a Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 14.9. That means it needs a stiff breeze to get moving. Its Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.2, however, helps it stand up to its canvas and power through waves.
Writing in Yachting Monthly, reviewers described the Contessa 28 as a reasonably sharp performer on the club circuit, as well as a safe, manageable, and docile family cruiser. Slightly heavy steering was the one handling caveat they noted.
The boat’s Capsize Screening Formula is 1.9, placing it among the safer choices for an ocean passage. Its moderate-displacement hull has a Displacement/Length Ratio of 292, which reads as a heavy-displacement cruising boat: stable and stiff, with good righting capability if inverted.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The spacious, uncluttered cockpit seats six. Its folding tiller connects to the spade rudder and frees useful space when stowed. A large cockpit locker to port holds sails and gear.
Forward, the wide, flat deck makes sail and anchor work easier, with a bow anchor locker and roller close at hand. A stainless-steel pulpit, pushpit, stanchions, and lifelines protect the perimeter. Cleats, winches, tracks, and jammers provide a complete sail-handling setup.
Accommodations
Below, the Contessa 28 sleeps five or six in two separate cabins and the saloon. The interior is finished with teak veneer, white bulkheads, and white headlinings.
The forward cabin has a V-berth that converts to a double with an infill, along with a hanging locker, shelves, and an opening hatch. In the saloon, the settees serve as single berths or convert into a double to port. A folding table seats four.
The galley sits to starboard, aft of the settee, and includes a two-burner gas stove with oven and grill, a manual-pump sink, and an icebox. Opposite, to port, are the navigation station, a large chart table, and a quarter berth.
Between the saloon and forward cabin, the head contains a manual washbasin, an electric-pump shower, and lockers.
Yachting Monthly found the interior awkward, the galley small, and the fold-down chart table clumsy. The original equipment level was good, however, and even included self-tailing winches and lee cloths.
Verdict
The Contessa 28 packs IOR-era cruiser-racer character into a 28-foot hull with seaworthiness beyond what its length might suggest. This moderate-displacement boat can feel underpowered in light air, but a fresh breeze brings out its stiffness and balance.
Owners have documented ocean crossings, confirming the design’s offshore intent, although the boat is best suited to coastal cruising. Below deck, the layout is practical but quirky, while the original inventory was generous for its class.
Pros
- High ballast ratio keeps the boat stiff and weatherly under sail
- Capsize screening figure below 2.0 supports bluewater aspirations
- Solid, hand-laid hull, cored deck, and robust flange joint
- Generous original equipment, including self-tailing winches and lee cloths
Cons
- Sluggish light-air performance, given the 14.9 Sail Area/Displacement Ratio
- Slightly heavy steering and an awkward interior, according to Yachting Monthly
- Small galley and clumsy fold-down chart table limit livability
