Dragonfly 28 Sailboats for Sale

Quorning Boats has been refining the folding trimaran concept for decades, and the 28 represents the marque at its most accessible — compact enough to trail, big enough for a family weekend, fast enough to race with genuine intent. The used fleet spans several named variants (Touring, Sport, Performance), each with incrementally more ambitious rigs and ama configurations, so the first task when evaluating any example is to identify exactly which build you are looking at. The Performance version, for instance, carries wave-piercing ama bows, extended floats with substantially more volume, and beefier standing rigging to support a carbon mast under pressure — details that matter enormously for inspection purposes and for how hard you intend to push the boat.

Layouts on the Used Market

The standard interior arrangement places five berths across the boat: a forepeak berth in the main hull forward, long, generous settees that convert to sleeping for two in the saloon, and the aft cabin, which consistently draws comment for how much space Quorning managed to squeeze into a 28-footer. A separate head compartment and a functional galley straddling the companionway complete the picture. Standing headroom in the main cabin runs close to six feet, which is exceptional for a trailerable multihull.

On the used market, examples that were fitted out for coastal cruising are the more common find, though charter-background boats appear with some regularity in European waters. Both layouts are available; the key practical difference tends to be the state of the upholstery, the galley fit-out, and how hard the mechanical systems have been worked.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The used fleet arrives well equipped relative to comparable-length monohulls. Autopilots, chartplotters, and AIS receivers are commonly fitted across the market, reflecting the boat's singlehanded-capable character — the Dragonfly 28 has always been marketed toward shorthanded sailing and owners take that seriously. Heating systems and solar panels appear with notable frequency, which speaks to owners using the boat for extended coastal cruising rather than purely day-racing.

Downwind canvas is almost universal: a Code Zero on the retractable carbon bowsprit is the go-to light-air weapon, and boats often carry an asymmetric spinnaker for broader reaching, with a gennaker appearing as an occasional owner upgrade. Biminis and dodgers are widely seen, as are trampolines on the outboard floats. Life rafts and EPIRBs appear routinely on cruising-configured examples.

Owners who use the boat offshore frequently have added lithium battery banks — a meaningful upgrade given the electrical demands of autopilots and chartplotters on a singlehanded passage. Cockpit showers appear on the better-equipped examples. The 15 hp Honda four-stroke outboard with electric start and tilt is the factory-standard auxiliary and most boats retain it; confirm the service history here because it is the boat's sole propulsion.

What to Inspect

The Swing Wing folding system is the mechanical heart of the boat and the first place to spend serious time. The ama deployment and retraction mechanism should operate smoothly from the cockpit without tools; any stiffness, binding, or play in the pivot fittings warrants close inspection of the locking hardware and pivot bushings. The system is well-proven after decades of refinement but it is also where deferred maintenance concentrates.

Hull construction is polyester with biaxial fibers over a Divinycell foam core, and bulkheads are bonded with vinylester adhesives. Probe any area where the bulkheads meet the hull skin for signs of delamination or bond failure, particularly in the main hull forward where loads from the rig concentrate. Tap testing around the keel area and along the hull sides will reveal any foam-core wet spots that need remediation.

The carbon mast on Performance variants demands inspection at the partners, the spreader roots, and the masthead. The Performance version carries beefier spreaders and upgraded standing rigging compared to the Touring and Sport, but any second-hand rig should be assessed for age-related fatigue regardless of variant. Check the standing rigging terminals carefully and ask about the rig's service history.

The centerboard trunk and the hinged hull opening on Performance models — a design feature that seals the trunk when the board is retracted — should be inspected for wear at the seal and for any signs of water ingress around the trunk. Centerboard pivot pins are a wear item on any lifting-keel boat; confirm the board drops and raises cleanly under load. With the board up, the boat draws just 15 inches, which means it has likely been beached or trailed regularly — examine the hull bottom for impact damage and osmotic blistering, the latter being a known long-term concern on foam-cored polyester construction.

Sails on high-use boats deserve attention. Standard Elvstrøm Technora EEPX sails are durable, but a Performance example that has been raced hard will show accelerated wear at the leech and at batten pockets. The furling genoa and lazy jack system for the main should be checked for line wear and UV degradation.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Dragonfly 28 circulates most actively in its home waters of northern Europe — Denmark, Germany, France, Spain, and the broader Baltic and Mediterranean brokerage markets — with a meaningful secondary presence on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Italy also produces regular listings. The boat's trailerable nature means it migrates freely across regions and a well-kept example in any of these markets is worth traveling to inspect.

Before committing to a purchase, work through this checklist:

• Confirm the exact variant (Touring, Sport, Performance) and cross-reference the rig, ama dimensions, and standing rigging specification accordingly
• Deploy and retract the Swing Wing amas fully; inspect pivot points, locking hardware, and bushing condition
• Tap-test the foam-core hull sides, forward sections, and bulkhead bonds for delamination or wet core
• Inspect the centerboard trunk, pivot pin, and — on Performance builds — the hinged trunk seal
• Pull service records for the outboard, the rig, and any lithium battery installations
• Verify the downwind sail inventory: Code Zero furler, spinnaker or asymmetric, and the bowsprit fitting
• Confirm autopilot, AIS, and electrical system function under realistic load
• Check the hull bottom for impact damage consistent with trailing or beaching use

The Dragonfly 28 is a specialized boat that rewards a buyer who understands what it is. A well-maintained example offers a combination of speed, coastal range, and trailerable convenience that simply has no equivalent in the monohull market at this size. The inspection emphasis belongs on the Swing Wing system and the composite structure — everything else is manageable.