Design and Construction
Schumacher’s 28-footer is a study in moderate proportions: a displacement-to-length ratio of 168 pairs with a length-to-beam ratio of 3.46, and the 4,400-pound displacement carries 2,000 pounds of ballast for a healthy ballast-to-displacement relationship. The narrow beam and moderate hull form read as conservative rather than radical, and the low freeboard gives the profile a classic Herreshoff-inspired look without copying it. The fin-and-bulb keel that Hoyt introduced sits beneath a semi-balanced spade rudder, a modern combination that keeps the underwater lines clean and the steering authority positive.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig with swept spreaders carries a self-tacking jib, a layout Hoyt refined by adding his jib boom to simplify foredeck work. A Harken traveler feeds the mainsheet forward to a barney post set in the middle of the cockpit, keeping the helmsman clear of the sheet path. With a sail area of 352 square feet and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.97, the rig is modestly powered; test sailors felt that the sail plan coupled with the ballast ratio would deliver a stiff and fast ride rather than a tender one. The narrow hull and moderate overhangs suggest a boat that responds to trim rather than brute horsepower.
Accommodations
Below, the Express 28 is unapologetically Spartan, yet functional for daysailing and short coastal hops. A head is tucked under the V-berth, and the first step down into the cabin lands on the top of the icebox, a compact arrangement that trades volume for simplicity. There is no pretense of cruising luxury; the accommodation plan serves the boat’s essential character as a day sailor with minimal overnight provision.
Refits and Ownership
From new, a Yanmar diesel was offered as an option, with the specifications listing an auxiliary Yanmar JGM 10 of 10 horsepower. The Hoyt jib boom and fin-and-bulb keel represent the most significant factory-era refinements, introduced when Hoyt became involved in 1994. Owners shopping the used fleet should note that the self-tacking jib and fractional rig with swept spreaders are standard defining features rather than later additions.
The Verdict
The Alerion Express 28 is a narrow, moderate-displacement daysailer with Herreshoff-inspired looks and a Schumacher hull refined by Hoyt. It rewards sailors who value simple rigging and a stiff, easily driven hull over cabin creature comforts.
Pros
- Narrow beam and low freeboard give a classic, balanced profile
- Self-tacking jib with Hoyt boom simplifies short-handed sailing
- Healthy ballast-to-displacement ratio for a stiff ride
Cons
- Spartan accommodations limit overnight capability
- Low freeboard reduces interior volume and headroom expectation
