Design and Construction
The J/28C has a solid-fiberglass hull, which keeps in-season maintenance to a minimum. Lead ballast accounts for 38 percent of displacement, a figure higher than only 38 percent of similar sailboats. That modest ballast ratio shows in practice: the design’s ability to resist heeling is below average for its class.
Wetted surface is about 269 square feet, and the theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 6.6 knots. The immersion rate is roughly 837 pounds per inch, a useful measure of how the boat settles as crew and gear come aboard.
The centerboard draws about five feet, shallow enough to clear most marina entrances. A spade rudder completes the modern fin-and-spade underwater profile.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig is slightly overrigged, carrying more sail area relative to most similar boats. That gives the J/28C a lively turn of speed but calls for an attentive hand. The fin keel provides splendid maneuverability, though it sacrifices some directional stability compared with a long-keel arrangement.
The control-line inventory is generous for a 28-footer. The mainsail, jib, genoa, and spinnaker halyards are each 94.2 feet long and 5/16 inch in diameter. Jib and genoa sheets are 28.4 feet of 3/8-inch line, the mainsheet is 71 feet of 3/8-inch line, and the spinnaker sheets are 62.5 feet of 3/8-inch line. A 13-foot cunningham and 26-foot kicking strap, both 5/16 inch, join a 26-foot, 5/16-inch clew outhaul to complete the control lines led aft.
Accommodations
Johnstone chose a notably spacious hull form, reflected in the 2.84 length-to-beam ratio. Compared with its mid-1980s peers, the J/28C offered more room than most. Its generous interior results from the beam carried well aft and the compact rig leaving the cabin uncluttered. That sense of space is the defining feature of the accommodations.
Verdict
The J/28C is a thoughtfully proportioned small sloop: beamy and roomy for its length, quick to maneuver, and lightly rigged enough for short-handed sailing, though slightly overcanvased for its ballast. Its fin-keel handling requires the helmsperson to stay engaged, and owners must accept modest stiffness as the breeze builds.
Pros
- Beamier and more spacious than most comparable designs
- Solid-fiberglass hull requires minimal in-season maintenance
- Fin keel provides splendid close-quarters maneuverability
- Generous, well-sized control-line inventory for a boat of this size
Cons
- Below-average ability to resist heeling with a 38 percent ballast ratio
- Less directional stability than a long-keel boat
- Slightly overrigged compared with most similar boats
