Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat carries a length overall of just over 30 feet with a beam near 9.7 feet, giving a length-to-beam ratio of 3.05 that reads as moderately narrow rather than beamy. At 6,834 pounds displacement with 1,764 pounds of ballast, the Delphia 28 shows a ballast-to-displacement ratio of about 26 percent and a DL-ratio of 70, a figure that classifies her among ultra-light racers rather than heavy cruisers. Her immersion rate of roughly 973 pounds per inch means she loads predictably, and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 9.6 places her firmly in the brisk, responsive camp. A capsize screening value of 2.49 would bar her from ocean racing capsize screening value for Delphia 28 is 2.49, and her CE certification as Class C inshore limits intended use to coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes, and rivers in conditions up to wind force 6 and 2-meter waves.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig drives 424 square feet of sail area, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.84 that supports the light-racer profile. Guiding sheet dimensions are practical and uniform: jib and genoa sheets run about 29.5 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet is 73.8 feet of the same diameter, and the spinnaker sheet is 65 feet long. The wing keel with a maximum draft of 4.76 feet and a minimum of 1.31 feet gives shoal-water flexibility, while the outboard rudder keeps steering loads external and serviceable. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 7.2 knots, a number the light displacement helps her approach in reaching conditions.
Accommodations
Below, the Delphia 28 is equipped with four berths and carries 90 liters (23 US gallons) of fresh water capacity. The interior is sized for coastal cruising rather than extended liveaboard use, and the berth count supports a small family or two couples for weekend voyages. With a diesel tank of 21 gallons, the boat is set up for short hops and marina-to-marina coastal travel rather than long offshore passages.
The Verdict
The Delphia 28 is a light, responsive coastal cruiser built for inshore sailing and short-handed enjoyment rather than bluewater ambition. Skrzat’s design delivers a predictable, easy-to-handle package with a modern fractional rig and a shoal-friendly wing keel, but the capsize screen and CE Class C rating honestly bracket her as a fair-weather, near-shore boat. For the sailor who wants a quick, low-load coastal weekender with straightforward fiberglass construction, she makes a coherent case.
Pros
- Ultra-light displacement and 18.84 SA/D ratio for lively performance
- Wing keel with 1.31–4.76 ft draft range for shoal access
- Four berths and 23-gallon water capacity for weekend coastal use
- Simple solid fiberglass hull and deck, outboard rudder for serviceability
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.49 excludes ocean racing
- CE Class C certification limits to inshore and coastal waters
- Light DL-ratio of 70 prioritizes speed over heavy-weather comfort
