Hunter 28.5 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 28.5 is a 28‑foot cruiser built by Hunter Marine between 1985 and 1988, and on today’s used market she appears in both owner and ex‑charter guises. The boat’s B&R rig, beamy cabin, and shoal‑keel option make her a practical small‑boat buy, but the short production run means a careful viewing counts more than a spec sheet.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three‑cabin and charter four‑cabin versions are both well represented among available boats, and ex‑charter examples are common. The four‑cabin charter layout trades some owner privacy for extra berths, while the three‑cabin owner version keeps the fore‑and‑aft aft berth that preserves stowage opposite. Either layout carries the factory teak‑and‑holly sole and dinette, so the difference is berth count rather than build quality.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Navigation and steering aids are the most frequently seen additions: autopilots and chartplotters are often carried on used Hunter 28.5s. Less common but worth checking for are air conditioning, a spinnaker, a bimini, and simplified short‑handed rigging, the last being an owner‑level upgrade rather than factory spec. The original self‑tailing jib winches and 110 percent genoa should still be present on unmolested boats, and a wheel‑steered spade rudder needs no extra electronics to handle.
What to Inspect
Because the B&R rig has no backstay, mast support relies on the split backstay and deck chainplates; check the sealant around deck‑level chainplate covers for cracking or staining that lets water reach the bulkheads. On the wing‑keel version, look closely at the shoal keel’s leading edge and keel‑hull joint for grounding scars, since the 4‑foot draft invites contact in thin water. Confirm the inboard diesel starts clean and the 11.5‑gallon fuel tank is free of sludge, and verify the teak‑and‑holly sole is not soft underfoot where the pressurized water system may have leaked.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States and the Netherlands. Before you commit, run a short checklist: inspect chainplate bedding for leaks, look over the wing keel for impact damage, confirm the diesel and tank condition, and verify the sole is dry.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 28.5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 17 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $13,000 | — |
| Mar 25 | 2 | $9,850 | -24.2% |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $9,950 | +1.0% |
| May 25 | 3 | $12,000 | +20.6% |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $12,500 | +4.2% |
| Aug 25 | 4 | $8,750 | -30.0% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $13,000 | +48.6% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $12,800 | -1.5% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $13,000 | +1.6% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $13,000 | 0.0% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $9,995 | -23.1% |
| Mar 26 | 4 | $7,000 | -30.0% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $27,385 | +291.2% |
| May 26 | 1 | $14,900 | -45.6% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $9,900 | -33.6% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $20,788 | +110.0% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $16,400 | -21.1% |
Where they're listed
Hunter 28.5 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 22 (88.0%), followed by Netherlands.
Country view
25 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $12,650 | 22 | 7 | 88.0% |
| Netherlands | $29,075 | 3 | 2 | 12.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Marine 31 | 31.33' | $ 21,200 | 70 | 12 |
| Beneteau First 285 | 28.16' | $ 17,676 | 47 | 13 |
| Hunter 28.5You are here | — | $ 12,800 | 25 | 9 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 17,943 | 15 | 5 |