Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass laminate. The deck and cabin structures are cored composite, joined to the hull on an inward flange with fasteners running through a perforated aluminum toe rail.
The original Newport 28 had a scimitar-shaped keel and rudder. In 1983, Capital Yachts introduced more modern, high-aspect appendages, and these boats became known as the Newport 28-II. The update also brought a single-piece fiberglass internal liner, an innovation for the series.
A fairly round midship section and pronounced cabintop camber keep the deckhouse profile low, although the camber reduces headroom away from the centerline. The boat displaces 7,000 lb and has a fairly high ballast/displacement ratio. It sits firmly enough, but owners report that it is tender.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Newport 28 carries a tall, high-aspect masthead rig with a fairly small mainsail and large foretriangle, typical of C&C’s approach. Because the rig balances toward the bow, the mast may need to be raked slightly aft to introduce a little weather helm.
Most owners report that the boat is very well balanced. The original version typically sails to a PHRF of 192 and is a competitive racer with a fair handicap. Practical Sailor found that the newer, deep-keel 28-II models are about six seconds per mile faster under PHRF. Their deeper appendages clearly make the later boat the more desirable version.
The trunk cabin isn’t excessively wide, so the chainplates can sit well inboard and provide a clean lead to the deck.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The main cabin has just over 6 feet of headroom on the centerline, but clearance diminishes quickly away from it because of the cabintop camber.
Three basic interior arrangements appeared over the years: one with the galley along the starboard side of the main cabin, and two with aft galleys, one to port and one to starboard. Later models offered only the two aft configurations. The starboard-aft galley is the only layout fitted with a stove and oven. However, making room for a longer settee required removing the starboard main bulkhead beneath the chainplates, weakening the structure.
There are nominally five berths: two forward, the port settee, a quarterberth, and the starboard settee. In practice, only the V-berth truly accommodates two adults, and the quarter berths are cramped.
The cockpit is large enough for a six-footer to stretch out or for four adults to sit comfortably.
Equipment and Auxiliary Power
The Newport 28 was originally equipped with an Atomic Four gasoline inboard, giving it far more power than it needs. Diesel power remained optional until the 28-II. According to owner reports, many boats have Yanmar or Universal diesels in the 11–18 hp range.
Engine access ranges from awful to good, depending on the year. Newer models gained a flush hatch in the cockpit sole directly over the engine. Access on early boats was very difficult until such a hatch was added.
A tiller is standard, though a fair number of boats received wheel steering either as an option or a retrofit. The pedestal saves space, but it forces the helmsman aft to the transom, where the sheets are out of reach—a serious shortcoming on a boat this size.
Known Issues
Owner complaints focus on finish quality and structural water paths. Mediocre woodwork fitting is common, as are leaking hull-to-deck joints. Practical Sailor notes that leaks have always been a common complaint at that connection.
The cockpit drains are too small, the through-hull fittings use plastic valves, and backing plates for hardware are often inadequate. One owner who raced the boat hard found a large crack in the hull molding aft of the primary sheet winches on a new boat, with light visible through it. The crack had been covered with auto body filler.
The removed bulkhead in the starboard-aft galley layout is a built-in structural concession rather than a defect, but buyers should know it exists.
The Verdict
The Newport 28 is a good entry-level cruiser-racer with a reasonable blend of performance and livability. The C&C pedigree shows in its rig and sheerline, while its built-to-a-price origins are evident in the woodwork and hull-to-deck joint. With its more modern keel and single-piece liner, the 28-II is the more desirable version.
Pros
- Competitive PHRF racer with a fair, well-populated handicap
- Faster, more modern keel and single-piece liner on the 28-II
- Large cockpit and more than 6 feet of headroom on the centerline
- Well-balanced helm, according to most owners
Cons
- Tender motion and a commonly reported leaking hull-to-deck joint
- Small cockpit drains, plastic through-hull valves, and weak backing plates
- Wheel steering leaves the helmsman unable to reach the sheets
- Starboard-aft galley layout compromises the bulkhead structure
