Design and Construction
Both the hull and deck are solid fiberglass, with an iron fin keel bolted beneath. The Endeavour 28 displaces a modest 7,015 pounds and carries 2,906 pounds of ballast.
With a beam of 9 feet 4 inches and a length-to-beam ratio of 2.98, the yacht is roomier than 58 percent of comparable designs. Those proportions give the interior a sense of volume unusual in a boat under 28 feet on deck.
The ballast ratio is 42 percent—higher than that of 58 percent of similar sailboats—and the displacement-length ratio is 241. These figures place the Endeavour 28 among what one design summary calls “moderate racers.” That categorization may seem at odds with the gentle cruiser suggested by its berth count, but it’s consistent with the relatively light, beamy hull.
Wetted surface is about 258 square feet. The immersion rate is 768 pounds per inch, so the boat settles noticeably as weight comes aboard. Depending on stowage, draft ranges from 5.15 to 5.45 feet.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Endeavour 28 has a masthead sloop rig and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.05, a figure that supports decent performance under canvas for a boat of its weight.
The standing and running rigging dimensions specify jib and genoa sheets of 27.9 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, a 69.8-foot mainsheet of the same diameter, and 61.4-foot spinnaker sheets.
Under power, a shaft-driven Volvo Penta MD7A provides a calculated maximum speed of about 4.9 knots. The theoretical maximum hull speed is 6.5 knots.
The boat’s capsize screening value of 1.96 meets the ocean-race formula threshold. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.0 indicates creditable seakeeping for a 28-foot cruiser.
Accommodations
Below, the Endeavour 28 has six berths, a galley, and a toilet facility. The beamy hull, which makes the boat roomier than most comparable designs, allows the cabin plan to sleep a small crew or family without the cramped transverse settees typical of narrower boats from the era.
Verdict
The Endeavour 28 reflects mid-1970s Australian design sensibilities: it’s beamy, moderately light, and better mannered in a seaway than its size implies. Its stability and comfort ratios, combined with a rig generously proportioned for its displacement, make it a credible candidate for coastal and moderate-offshore sailing. Meanwhile, the six-berth interior meets the practical needs of a weekend or holiday crew.
Pros
- Roomier than 58 percent of similar designs by length-to-beam ratio
- Ballast ratio of 42 percent, exceeding that of 58 percent of comparable sailboats
- Capsize screening value of 1.96, qualifying it for ocean-race consideration by formula
- Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.0 for a 28-foot cruiser
- Six berths, a galley, and a toilet facility in a sub-28-foot hull
Cons
- An immersion rate of 768 pounds per inch means noticeable sinkage under load
- A theoretical hull speed of 6.5 knots limits outright pace under sail
