Design and Construction
The hull and deck are solid fiberglass. Displacement is 7,937 lbs, including 3,527 lbs of iron ballast, while beam is 8.69 feet and waterline length is 23.62 feet.
Her proportions point to a stable, narrow coastal hull. A length-to-beam ratio of 3.19 makes her slimmer than 66% of comparable sailboat designs. Her ballast-to-displacement ratio is variously given as 44.44% and 44%, higher than 69% of similar boats. That substantial ballast underpins the assessment that she has a very stable and stiff hull with excellent righting capability if capsized.
The displacement-to-length ratio is reported as 268.89, placing her among moderate racers. Her capsize screening value is near 1.75–1.78, which puts her squarely in coastal-cruiser territory rather than marking her as an offshore expedition boat.
Rig, Engine, and Handling
The Fellowship 28 is a masthead sloop with a 100% sail area of 283.09 sq.ft. Sources give differing sail-area-to-displacement ratios: one reports 11.42 and another 12.99.
Reference data describes her as under powered with a single 10 hp Farymann diesel. The record also notes that she may be fitted with an inboard engine driving a saildrive.
Sheet estimates are practical and consistent:
- Jib and genoa sheets: about 28.2 ft at 3/8 inch
- Mainsheet: 70.5 ft
- Spinnaker sheet: 62.1 ft
- All sheets: 10 mm
Theoretical hull speed is 6.51 knots, and the immersion rate is about 729 lbs per inch. A Motion Comfort Ratio of 27.54 makes her more comfortable than 79% of similar designs. Wetted surface is roughly 215 sq.ft, keeping drag modest for a 28-footer.
Accommodations and Tankage
The boat has five berths and carries 40 gallons (150 liters) of fresh water, a capacity one reference describes as providing a short cruising range.
One specification extract lists zero cabins and heads despite also giving the boat five berths. The berth count from the yachtdatabase review stands as the accommodation load.
Performance Profile
Stability is the strongest part of the available material. The Fellowship 28 is assessed as very stable and stiff, with excellent righting capability if capsized. Her high ballast ratio and slim beam also help explain her comfort advantage over most comparable designs.
A displacement-to-length ratio of 269 and the under-powered 10 hp engine frame her as a moderate-weight coastal cruiser. She is best suited to sheltered water and short hops rather than sustained passage work.
The Verdict
The Fellowship 28 is a narrowly proportioned, heavily ballasted Dutch coastal sloop. Her principal virtues are stiffness, comfort, and righting ability in a 28-foot package. She is lightly powered and water-limited, which confines her to coastal use, but her numbers suggest a forgiving, steady-handed boat in that role.
Pros
- Very stable and stiff hull with excellent capsize righting
- More comfortable than 79% of similar designs by Motion Comfort Ratio
- High 44% ballast ratio and slim 3.19 length-to-beam proportion
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck
- Fin keel with spade rudder
Cons
- Under powered with 10 hp total engine output
- Short cruising range from the 40-gallon water supply
- Best suited to coastal cruising rather than offshore sailing
