Design and Construction
Jeanneau built the Sun Dream 28 according to the stringent principles that earned the marque its international reputation. Fibreglass cloth was laid up and rolled by hand at a constant temperature. Stringers and bulkheads were bonded to the hull by lamination, while the deck-hull joint was laminated over in the traditional manner. The inner mouldings are expressly aesthetic rather than structural, and the keel received an epoxy treatment.
One tested example still had fair hull and deck mouldings, with minimal crazing and discolouration, into its third decade. The neatly finished joinery feels substantial, with handholds on each side and timber trim below the windows that keeps the interior from feeling plasticky.
On deck, broad side decks flank a near-flush foredeck that provides an attractive and convenient sunbathing area. The open pulpit at the bow is a 100% Jeanneau part. The rudder post sits outside the hull moulding, on a transom extended by a sugar scoop to lengthen the waterline and smooth the wake. An optional transom extension was offered as a performance factor and as a platform for bathing, boarding, and coming alongside.
The cockpit locker is teak-lined throughout. It’s large enough to hold the hatch boards in a dedicated housing as well as the complete suit of sails.
Rig, Cockpit, and Handling
The Sun Dream 28 has a single-spreader masthead rig. Cap and lower shrouds sweep a few degrees aft to U-bolts outboard of the coachroof, while twin backstays provide aft support. A babystay offers a useful handhold forward of the mast—important because the large forward-facing pane just abaft the mast is a slippery trap for the unwary.
Headsail sheets lead to a pair of Harken Barbarossa 32 self-tailing winches on plinths outboard of the coamings. A single-speed winch on the port side of the coachroof handles the mainsail inhaul and outhaul through a pair of Spinlock clutches. The mainsheet traveller crosses the bridge deck, leaving the middle of the cockpit clear and preserving access to a full-depth locker to starboard.
Practical Boat Owner described the Sun Dream 28 as a great little coastal cruiser, with a comfortable helming position that scores more highly than most cruisers. The coamings are slightly too close to the guardwires for the helm to lean back fully, however. With the tiller set well aft, the cockpit offers generous fore-and-aft space, and the distance between the seats provides good leg bracing.
The semi-balanced rudder, mounted on a partial skeg, never lost grip even when the boat bore away with the sheets pinned in. A reviewer noted that the flat forefoot might make her prone to slamming in a seaway, although one owner suspected that the fine entry mitigates this tendency.
Accommodation
For a 28-footer, the Sun Dream 28’s interior volume is vast and well used, divided among three independent cabins. The saloon provides exemplary elbow room and works well with the large chart table and galley. Headroom in the saloon and galley is just over 1.83 m. Each cabin has its own natural light and ventilation, and teak finishes the hull lining in the saloon area.
The forecabin has a 2.03 m berth, while the saloon berths measure 1.85 m. Aft, the double cabin has a 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) berth, extra dressing space, 1.80 m headroom, and a pressured water supply. The aft quarter berth is longer inboard, at 1.93 m, than outboard, at 1.87 m, and has a low stern window.
Measuring 56 by 84 cm, the chart table is generous for paper navigation in a boat designed before push-button navigation became the norm. It provides ample room for instruments.
The galley sits to port beside the companionway. It has a single sink, enough stowage for coastal cruising, and a standard cooker with two burners and a grill, but no oven. A plastic water tank lies to port beneath the saloon bunk boards. A built-in crumb tray in the sole is another sign of the care given to small details.
The heads contains the boat’s only interior mouldings. Its seacocks are accessible, and there’s room to hang waterproofs.
Known Issues
The main sailing caveat is the flat forefoot. A reviewer identified it as a potential source of slamming in a seaway, although the fine entry may soften the effect in practice.
The forward-facing window just abaft the mast is a slipping hazard. It’s also set at too shallow an angle to provide good forward visibility.
Below the sole, the keel bolts are glassed over, complicating inspection. A mini sump abaft them serves the bilge pumps and the shower and coolbox drains.
Verdict
The Sun Dream 28 is a capable small cruiser whose stability, interior volume, and thoughtful detailing set her above the average small production boat. She is ideal for coastal cruising and has also logged offshore miles, including a British owner’s passage to Iceland. The flat forefoot and slippery forward window are genuine but manageable quirks.
Pros
- Vast, well-used three-cabin interior, with standout headroom for the size
- Stable hull, comfortable and well-equipped cockpit, and accessible engine
- Hand-laid construction, bonded structure, and a fair long-term finish
Cons
- Flat forefoot may be prone to slamming in a seaway
- Forward window is slippery and gives poor visibility directly ahead
- Glassed-over keel bolts complicate inspection
