Design and Construction
Petterson laid down the Maxi 87 as a fin-keeled masthead sloop with a solid fiberglass hull and deck, and an iron ballast keel. The 43% ballast ratio and 2.90 length-to-beam ratio describe a hull that is narrow by modern standards yet firmly weighted, with 3,306 pounds of iron ballast in a 7,716-pound displacement. The 254 displacement-length ratio places it among moderate racers, and the 1.99 capsize screening value reflects a stability profile acceptable under the standard offshore formula. The 26 square meters of wetted surface and 855 pounds-per-inch immersion rate confirm a relatively light, easily driven hull that responds to loading without dramatic trim change.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a masthead rig with a 350-square-foot sail plan, and the sail-area-to-displacement ratio runs 12.2 on the ISO reference sail, rising to 14.7 with a 135% genoa. That range, paired with a theoretical hull speed of 6.7 knots and a relative speed performance index of 42, marks the 87 as quick for her length without being extreme. Under a Volvo Penta MD7A diesel turning a saildrive, she makes about 7.0 knots. The 40.68-foot mast above the waterline sets the scale for the standing and running rigging, whose period estimates run to 26-meter halyards and a 21.8-meter mainsheet. The 5.25-foot draft keeps her out of most shallow anchorages but still permits marina access across normal tidal ranges.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is teak, consistent with Scandinavian production practice of the era, and headroom is above average for a 28-footer. The cabin volume serves the dual racer-cruiser brief: enough room to live aboard for a weekend series, without the bulk that would dull the moderate-racer performance numbers. The 24-gallon water and 11-gallon fuel capacities are modest, reinforcing the coastal and short-passage intent rather than long independent cruising.
The Verdict
The Maxi 87 is a disciplined example of the mid-1970s IOR half-ton idea: narrow, well-ballasted, and quick under a masthead rig, with a builder pedigree tied directly to Petterson's early Maxi work. She rewards an owner who wants classic club-racer feel in a manageable 28-foot package, but asks for tolerance of period tankage and a saildrive-era drivetrain.
Pros
- Coherent moderate-racer numbers: D/L 254, ballast ratio 43%, SA/D up to 14.7 with genoa
- Above-average headroom and teak interior for the length
- Iron fin keel and 5.25-foot draft balance marina access with windward grip
Cons
- Modest 11-gallon fuel and 24-gallon water capacity limit range
- Saildrive transmission on a 13 hp diesel is period-specific and demands careful survey
- Narrow 9.84-foot beam reflects IOR priorities over modern living space
