Jeanneau Sun Dream 28 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Jeanneau built the Sun Dream 28 to the stringent principles that earned the marque its international reputation, and the structure reflects that intent. The fibreglass cloth is laid up and rolled by hand at constant temperature, while stringers and bulkheads are bonded to the hull by lamination and the deck-hull joint is laminated over in the traditional manner. Inner moulds are expressly aesthetic rather than structural, and the keel is epoxy-treated. A tested example showed fair hull and deck mouldings with minimal crazing and discolouration into its third decade, and the neatly finished joinery has a substantial feel, with handholds each side and timber trim below the windows that keeps the interior from reading as plasticky.

On deck, the boat shows broad side-decks and an attractive forward sundeck, plus a near-flush foredeck that doubles as a convenient sunbathing space. The open pulpit at the bows is a 100% Jeanneau part. The rudder post sits outside the hull moulding on a transom extended by a sugar scoop to draw out the waterline and smooth the wake, and the cockpit locker is teak-lined throughout and roomy enough to swallow the hatch-boards in a special housing and the complete suit of sails. An optional transom extension was offered as a performance factor and a bathing, boarding, and coming-alongside platform.

Rig and Handling

The Sun Dream 28 carries a single-spreader masthead rig with cap and lower shrouds swept a few degrees aft to U-bolts outboard of the coachroof and twin backstays for aft support. A babystay gives a handhold forward of the mast, which matters because the big forward-facing pane just abaft the mast is a slippery trap for the unwary. Headsail sheets run to a pair of Harken Barbarossa 32 self-tailing winches mounted on plinths outboard of the coamings, while a single-speed winch on the port coachroof side handles mainsail inhaul and outhaul with a pair of Spinlock clutches. The mainsheet traveller sits across the bridge-deck, keeping the cockpit centre clear and giving access to a full-depth locker to starboard.

Practical Boat Owner found her a great little coastal cruiser with a comfortable helming position that scores more highly than most cruisers, though the coamings sit slightly close to the guardwires to let the helm lean back fully. The tiller is well aft, giving generous fore-and-aft cockpit space, and a good leg-bracing width lies between the seats. The semi-balanced rudder on its partial skeg never lost grip even when bearing away with sheets pinned in. One owner suspected the fine entry mitigates the flat forefoot, which a reviewer noted might make her prone to slamming in a seaway.

Accommodations

For a 28-footer, the Sun Dream 28's interior volume is vast and well used, split into three independent cabins. The saloon boasts exemplary elbow-room and sits in harmony with a large chart table and galley; headroom runs just over 1.83 m in the saloon and galley. Each cabin has its own natural light and ventilation, and the saloon area carries a teak finish to the hull-lining. The forecabin has a 2.03 m berth, while saloon berths are 1.85 m. Abaft, the double cabin holds a berth of 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) with extra space for dressing, a headroom of 1.80 m, and pressured water supply; the aft quarter berth is longer inboard (1.93 m) than outboard (1.87 m) and has a low stern window.

The chart table measures 56 by 84 cm — generous for paper navigation in a boat designed before push-button navigation — with ample space for instruments. The galley to port by the companionway has a single sink, stowage adequate 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, and a built-in crumb-tray in the sole speaks to the care in detailing. The heads contains the only interior mouldings on the boat, and seacocks are accessible with room to hang waterproofs.

Known Issues

The principal sailing caveat is the flat forefoot, which a reviewer flagged as a potential source of slamming in a seaway, though a fine entry may soften the effect in practice. On deck, the forward-facing window ahead of the mast is a slipping hazard and set at too shallow an angle to give good forward visibility. Beneath the sole, keel bolts have been glassed over, with a mini sump abaft them for bilge pumps and shower and coolbox drains.

The Verdict

The Sun Dream 28 is a capable little cruiser whose stability, volume, and considered detailing lift her above the average small production boat. She is ideal for coastal cruising and has logged offshore miles, including a British owner's passage to Iceland. The flat forefoot and slick forward window are real but manageable quirks.

Pros