The boat has a beam of just over 21 feet and a displacement of 4,189 pounds. It carries a fractional sloop rig, centerboard, and outboard rudders, while its folding outer hulls allow it to fit into a normal marina slip.
Design and Construction
The Dragonfly 28’s defining structural feature is its Swing Wing system. From the cockpit, the crew can swing the outer hulls inward without tools in roughly two minutes. Quorning Boats brought two decades of experience building retractable-hull trimarans to the design. The result is a boat that can be towed behind a car, launched, and sailing across the bay in about 40 minutes.
The hull is solid fiberglass, and the deck is also solid. With the centerboard raised, the boat draws as little as 1.31 feet; with it extended, draft increases to 5.58 feet. That gives the Dragonfly 28 a practical shoal-draft cruising profile.
Overall length is 28.71 feet, with a 28.21-foot waterline. The trimaran has a capsize ratio of 5.29 and a displacement-to-length ratio near 83. These figures sit comfortably with its role as a stable coastal cruiser-racer rather than a bluewater voyager.
Rig and Handling
The Dragonfly 28 is designed around easy, balanced control. The tiller is always fully balanced, allowing even a child to steer, while the boat sails upright with what the builder describes as huge stability. That stability makes gybing straightforward, and the boat can tack upwind like a dinghy.
All control lines lead aft to a spacious, safe, and user-friendly cockpit. A furling genoa and lazy jack mainsail system mean the boat can be left sail-ready in the harbor. The setup also simplifies shorthanded sail handling, and the lines led aft keep the crew in the cockpit, where the boat is safest to operate.
For racing, crews are often single-handed, and one sailor can fly the spinnaker alone. In light air, a Code-0 or asymmetric spinnaker set from the bowsprit can drive the boat as fast as the true wind.
The Honda 15 HP outboard has electric start and electric tilt. It operates much like an inboard while offering better maneuverability, and the boat remains manageable under power with its outer hulls retracted.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Dragonfly 28 has five berths and a separate head, giving it a versatile, functional interior for cruising with family and friends. Standing headroom in the main cabin is 1.85 meters. The spacious dinette provides an outside view akin to that of a deck-saloon yacht.
The full galley has generous counter space on each side. Above, two large forward trampolines add plenty of usable deck space. Taken together, the cockpit, interior volume, and open deck make the boat feel roomy for its length without pretending to offer the space of a large monohull.
Equipment and Shelter
The standard shelter package includes a sprayhood, cockpit tent, and bimini, which the builder offers for added protection at anchor or under way. The furling genoa, lazy-jack system, and lines led aft support easy shorthanded sailing, while the 15 HP Honda outboard provides inboard-like control through its electric start and electric tilt.
The Verdict
The Dragonfly 28 successfully bridges day sailing, family cruising, and single-handed racing. Its folding design avoids the need for a wide marina berth, while the Swing Wing system, balanced helm, and stable platform make the boat unusually approachable. The interior is also genuinely usable for a trimaran of this size.
Lightweight construction and a modest engine reflect a boat intended to be sailed often rather than motored. Its strengths are best suited to coastal cruising and performance sailing, rather than extended or offshore voyaging.
Pros
- Outer hulls fold without tools in about two minutes, allowing the boat to use normal slips and be trailered
- Balanced tiller and stable hull allow a child to helm and make gybing easy
- Five berths, a separate head, and a dinette with a deck-saloon-like view
- Suitable for single-handed racing, with light-air spinnaker performance as fast as the true wind
Cons
- 17-gallon water capacity limits extended cruising range
- Outboard power and light displacement suit coastal use more than offshore work
