LM 28 Buyer's Guide
The LM 28 is a Danish-built motorsailer from LM Glasfiber A/S, designed by Bent Juul Andersen and produced from 1982 to 1991 with 325 hulls completed. On the used market she appeals to buyers who want a sheltered-wheelhouse cruiser with a real sailing rig and a dependable Volvo diesel — a different proposition from a pure sailboat, and worth judging on her own terms.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every LM 28 shares the same fundamental plan: two cabins, five berths, a galley, and a toilet, finished in teak below. The motorsailer arrangement centers on an enclosed or semi-enclosed steering station rather than an open cockpit saloon, which divides living and sleeping space efficiently on an 8.53-meter hull. The beam of 2.9 meters gives the interior a roomy feel for the length, and the long-keel hull with iron or lead ballast draws only 1.35 to 1.45 meters depending on load, letting owners use shallow marinas that exclude deeper fin-keel rivals.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry an autopilot, cabin heating, and a chartplotter as standard cruising kit, reflecting her sheltered-pilot role. Solar panels and a bimini are often seen additions for extended anchoring and temperate cockpit use. Buyers should view the autopilot and chartplotter as core to the boat's character — they complete the wheelhouse cruising concept — while heating matters more in the Danish, German, and UK climates where many hulls circulate. A saildrive transmission and Volvo Penta 2003 diesel are original-fit, not upgrades.
What to Inspect
The LM 28 uses a saildrive transmission on the Volvo Penta 2003 engine, and the rubber diaphragm in that drive has a finite service life requiring labor-intensive replacement. The builder offered different keel alternatives including iron and lead, so confirm which is fitted and check for corrosion or keel-bolt issues accordingly. The deck is a fiberglass sandwich — inspect for delamination or water ingress at fittings, since the sandwich construction depends on intact skins for its stiffness and condensation control.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up most often in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, and Australia. For a shopper, the short checklist is: verify the keel material and condition, confirm saildrive diaphragm service history, and test the sandwich deck for soft spots. A well-kept LM 28 with the common autopilot, heating, and chartplotter fit-out makes a steady, shallow-draft coastal cruiser with a teak interior and a proven Danish pedigree.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the LM 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 12 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $32,919 | — |
| Sep 25 | 6 | $26,055 | -20.9% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $32,919 | +26.3% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $21,770 | -33.9% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $22,315 | +2.5% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $23,989 | +7.5% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $19,050 | -20.6% |
| May 26 | 2 | $25,264 | +32.6% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $26,778 | +6.0% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $32,915 | +22.9% |
| Aug 26 | 4 | $25,105 | -23.7% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $23,881 | -4.9% |
Where they're listed
LM 28 listings appear across 5 countries. Denmark has the most listings with 6 (30.0%), followed by United Kingdom and Germany.
Country view
20 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | $22,761 | 6 | 2 | 30.0% |
| United Kingdom | $28,664 | 6 | 1 | 30.0% |
| Germany | $25,383 | 4 | 1 | 20.0% |
| Netherlands | $25,105 | 3 | 3 | 15.0% |
| Australia | $34,165 | 1 | 1 | 5.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LM Yachts 27 | 27.39' | $ 20,781 | 42 | 8 |
| LM 28You are here | — | $ 25,105 | 20 | 8 |
| Nordship 28 | 28.71' | $ 22,067 | 10 | 2 |
| Finnsailer 29 | 29.25' | $ 18,703 | 7 | 4 |
| Degerö Yachts 28 MS | 27.72' | $ 51,307 | 6 | 1 |