LM 28 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The two-cabin, five-berth arrangement that LM Glasfiber built into the 28 remains essentially uniform across the production run. A forward V-berth cabin and a separate aft sleeping area — often used as a dedicated owner's cabin — flank the central saloon and galley. Five berths sounds generous for a twenty-eight-footer, and the reality is that the boat is genuinely roomy below for its length, aided by a relatively generous beam and the sandwich-construction deck that keeps headroom comfortable without stacking on windage. The interior was finished in teak throughout, and surviving woodwork in well-maintained examples tends to age graciously; look for delamination around any hardware penetrations rather than the wood itself. The galley runs to a reasonable size with the full-length waterline working in its favour, and the 140-litre fresh-water tank supports extended stays away from marinas. The head compartment is a proper separate space rather than an improvised corner, which is a meaningful quality-of-life advantage at this size.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Because the LM 28 attracted owners who used their boats seriously, the used examples that circulate today tend to arrive with a reasonable electronics fit already in place. Autopilots and chartplotters are commonly fitted, reflecting the motorsailer character of a boat often driven as much under power as under sail. Heating systems appear with notable frequency — appropriate given the Scandinavian and northern European provenance of most hulls — and a boat without some form of cabin heating in that market is the exception. Solar panels and bimini covers appear regularly as retrofits, often fitted together as part of a passage-comfort upgrade.

Among owner additions, a furling mainsail conversion is a frequently seen modification, trading some sail efficiency for effortless handling when short-handed — a natural fit for a motorsailer used by couples or solo skippers. Bow thrusters and electric winches turn up occasionally, again reflecting serious coastal and offshore use. Hot water systems and teak deck overlays appear as comfort upgrades on boats whose owners clearly spent time aboard.

What to Inspect

The hand-laid fibreglass hull demands less worry than a cored laminate in most areas, but the deck is a sandwich construction throughout. Deck sandwich delamination deserves close attention at every piece of through-deck hardware: stanchion bases, cleats, and handrail fastenings are the usual culprits. Tap the deck methodically and investigate any dead or hollow sound before committing.

The iron keel variant — noted in the design documentation — warrants careful inspection for corrosion, particularly at the keel-to-hull joint. Some hulls were fitted with lead ballast instead, which is preferable and worth confirming before survey. Either way, examine the bilge for rust staining or weeping at the keelbolts, and ensure the bolts themselves have not wasted away undetected.

The Volvo Penta 2003 diesel is a well-regarded unit with a long service history in the marine industry, but any engine of this age needs scrutiny. The saildrive transmission configuration is the detail that matters most: the saildrive bellows — the rubber seal that keeps seawater out where the drive leg penetrates the hull — degrades with age and UV exposure, and replacement is non-negotiable on any boat where the bellows cannot be confirmed as recently renewed. A failed saildrive bellows will sink the boat at the dock; treat it as a safety-critical item regardless of how the rest of the mechanical survey looks. Check the fuel tank, which is stainless steel, for any sign of pinhole corrosion at the base — a condition sometimes found in boats that sat with low fuel levels for extended periods.

Standing rigging on a masthead sloop of this era should be treated as time-expired unless the owner can document recent replacement. Inspect the chainplates where they pass through the deck for any signs of water ingress or corrosion staining inside the boat.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The LM 28 circulates most actively in northern European markets — Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom account for the bulk of brokerage listings, which is unsurprising given the builder's Danish origins and the boat's cold-weather heating fit. Australian listings appear with some regularity, suggesting that a proportion of hulls found their way south and have remained there. The boat is not widely encountered in Mediterranean or North American markets, so buyers outside northern Europe should expect to either search patiently or factor in the cost of a delivery passage.

For the right buyer — someone wanting a dependable, well-insulated cruiser-motorsailer that is genuinely manageable short-handed — the LM 28 offers solid value when properly maintained examples are found. Before making an offer, confirm the following:

• Saildrive bellows condition and renewal history
• Keel material (iron or lead) and keelbolt condition
• Deck sandwich integrity at all hardware penetrations
• Standing rigging age and chainplate condition
• Engine hours and service record for the Volvo Penta 2003
• Heating system functionality
• Autopilot, chartplotter, and any electronics functionality
• Teak interior condition, particularly around ports and deck hardware penetrations