Lancer 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Lancer 28 means taking home a Turner-designed trailerable cruiser built between 1977 and 1985, a 28-foot monohull that trades outright performance for the ability to sleep six and still be towed. The used fleet spans the original six-berth layout and the later Mark V with its forepeak sail stowage, and most boats will show the compromises of light trailering construction alongside a few well-known weak points worth a careful look before purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
The predominant used example is the original layout with a double V-berth forward, a full-width narrow head just aft of it, and a main cabin whose port settee and starboard drop-leaf dinette both convert to berths; quarterberths sit under each side of the cockpit. The 1979 Mark V dropped the forward berth for sail storage, which suits buyers who prize stowage over maximum headcount. Galley spaces span both sides at the companionway, with a two-burner stove to port and sink and icebox to starboard. Headroom aft reaches 6 feet 2 inches thanks to a cabin sole dropped into the keel stub.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A chartplotter is commonly fitted across the used fleet, reflecting modern navigation expectations on a vintage trailerable. A short-handed setup is also commonly found, meaning buyers can expect led lines and simplified controls suited to single- or two-person crews rather than a full racing watch. Most boats retain the original outboard in a stern well, though some will have been repowered with one of the period inboard options such as Petter, Renault, and Yanmar diesels.
What to Inspect
Several owners report the mast tabernacle is not strong enough, so check the tabernacle and partners for cracks or reinforcing repairs. Surveyors should also note reported seepage at the hull-deck interface and through the ports, while some skippers cite blistering or crazing in the gelcoat that warrants close inspection. Finding deck leaks is complicated by the vinyl headliner, so a moisture meter and careful tap test matter more than a visual glance. The wide sliding companionway hatch is not well sealed against boarding waves, and its light plywood dropboards lift free after only a few inches — confirm the hatch gaskets and board condition.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for these boats is the United States. For a buyer, the practical checklist is short:
- Confirm the mast tabernacle and hull-to-deck joint integrity
- Test companionway hatch sealing and inspect dropboard plywood
- Look beneath the vinyl headliner for hidden deck leaks
- Verify gelcoat for blistering, crazing, or stress cracks
- Decide between original six-berth and Mark V sail-storage layouts
The Lancer 28 rewards the patient shopper with a genuinely trailerable six-berth cruiser, provided the known leak and rigging points are surveyed before commit.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Lancer 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 | $8,500 | — |
Where they're listed
Lancer 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 | $8,500 | 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
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Rogers 28 | 27.67' | $ 9,705 | 30 | 11 |
| Pearson 28 (1975-80) | 28' | $ 15,200 | 16 | 3 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 17,924 | 15 | 5 |
| Islander 28 | 27.92' | $ 12,500 | 7 | 3 |
| Lancer 28You are here | — | $ 8,500 | 1 | 1 |