Design and Construction
The main hull shows flat rocker throughout its midsections, a feature Farrier credited with promoting early planing the flat rocker promotes early planing. The steep buttock run aft, he also claimed, helps keep the bow from burying when the boat accelerates. The folding amas carry more volume than those of the F-27, and that extra buoyancy keeps the akas higher above the design waterline, which in turn reduces spray on the akas and makes the 28 both drier and faster than its predecessor. The boat is built of solid fiberglass in both hull and deck, with a capsize screening ratio of 5.68 and a comfort ratio of 2.91 that place it firmly in the light, performance-oriented trimaran camp.
Rig and Handling
The most significant rig change from the F-27 is the rotating mast, which cleans up the mainsail's leading edge and lets the boat sail faster upwind and lower downwind the rotating mast improves mainsail efficiency. The mainsail itself uses a fathead-style upper batten configuration. Two models exist: the standard cruiser and the 28R racing version, which carries a carbon fiber mast with an additional 12 inches of hoist. That carbon spar is much lighter for trailering and stepping. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio for the racing rig is 41.02, calculated using the full mainsail including roach and an empty displacement; with cruising gear and 3,000 pounds of displacement and the roach removed, the figure settles at 34.15. On the water, the F-28 rates PHRF 36 to 25 seconds per mile faster than a turbo F-27, and reviewers summed it up plainly: the new 28 is a lot faster than the older boat.
Rudder and Stability
The F-27 had a known fault where the rudder lost its grip at high speeds. The 28 corrects this with a rudder "fence" about a third of the way down the blade, and the blade itself is raked forward 4 degrees. Combined with the increased ama volume that raises the akas and adds stability, the steering package addresses the earlier generation's shortfall without resorting to a heavier or more complex appendage.
Accommodations
The 28's layout places the cockpit aft, with the accommodations moved forward relative to the F-27 — a relocation that period coverage called a great improvement in both areas over the 27. The forward-shifted interior makes better use of the hull's midsection volume than the prior layout allowed.
The Verdict
The Corsair 28 is a thoughtfully evolved folding trimaran that takes the F-27's strengths and answers its weaknesses. The flat-rocker hull and higher-volume folding amas deliver a drier, faster, more stable platform, while the rotating mast and optional carbon racing rig sharpen performance without complicating trailering. The rudder fix alone justifies the generation change for anyone who sails the boat hard.
Pros
- Longer, wider, lighter, and markedly faster than the F-27
- Folding amas with more volume raise the akas for less spray and more stability
- Rotating mast improves mainsail efficiency upwind and downwind
- Rudder fence and forward rake correct the F-27's high-speed grip loss
- Carbon 28R rig is lighter to trailer and step, with extra hoist
Cons
- Light displacement and low comfort ratio suit performance sailing over loaded cruising
- Fathead mainsail and rotating rig add tuning complexity versus a standard sloop
