J-Boats J/28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used J/28 market means looking at a compact 1980s Johnstone design built in limited numbers, where the beamy hull and fractional rig define the ownership experience. These boats turn up in the United States, and the brief production run from 1986 to 1988 means every example is of the same generation.
Layouts on the Used Market
The J/28's 10-foot beam on a 28.5-foot hull gives it a length-to-beam ratio of 2.84, a hull form the original design review described as significantly more roomy than typical for the size — roomier than 76 percent of comparable sailboats. Below, the 35-gallon water and 20-gallon fuel tanks support coastal use, and the single 18-horsepower Yanmar diesel moves the 7,900-pound boat adequately. The fin keel draws about 5 feet loaded, keeping most marinas accessible.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the brokerage market, J/28s commonly carry lithium batteries, a spinnaker, autopilot, and a chartplotter as standard fitted equipment. For a buyer, the lithium banks and autopilot speak to a boat set up for extended independent sailing, while the spinnaker and chartplotter confirm the boat is used in its intended performance-cruising role. No other upgrades appear at meaningful prevalence in the available market picture.
What to Inspect
The available notes on the J/28 are light on defects, but the boat's fin-keel configuration is worth a careful look: the fin keel provides splendid maneuverability yet has less directional stability than a long keel anchor, and a hull with below-average heel resistance per the design review should be checked for rig tuning and ballast integrity. The fiberglass hull itself requires only minimal seasonal maintenance, but survey the specified rigging dimensions — 94.2-foot halyards at 5/16 inch, 3/8-inch sheets — against what is actually fitted, since a slightly overrigged boat can mask worn running gear.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
J/28s are found in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short:
- Confirm the beamy hull's interior matches the space promise of the 2.84 L/B ratio
- Verify lithium batteries, autopilot, chartplotter, and spinnaker are present and serviceable
- Inspect fin keel and spade rudder for impact or alignment issues
- Check halyard and sheet sizes against the 5/16- and 3/8-inch specs
- Expect a maneuverable but directionally loose helm under fin-keel geometry
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the J-Boats J/28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26 | 1 | $23,900 | — |
Where they're listed
J-Boats J/28 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $23,900 | 1 | 1 | 100.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 28 | 28.5' | $ 25,000 | 38 | 7 |
| One-Off 28 | 28.18' | $ 40,793 | 14 | 2 |
| Jeanneau First 28 | 28.21' | $ 26,597 | 12 | 3 |
| J-Boats J/28You are here | — | $ 23,900 | 1 | 1 |