Newport 28-2 Buyer's Guide
The Newport 28-2 on the brokerage market is the 1982–1987 development of Capital Yachts' Newport 28, carrying the modern fin keel and revised rudder that define the later generation. Built in Harbor City, California, with a hull designed by C&C, it remains a recognizable entry-level cruiser-racer. Shoppers in the United States and Canada will see these boats most often, and the practical questions are less about spec sheets than about which known construction and layout issues followed the design into used hands.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 28-2 came with two aft-galley interior plans, port or starboard, both sleeping five across a forward double, two main-cabin settees, and a quarter berth. Only the starboard-aft galley includes an oven, but that arrangement required cutting the starboard main bulkhead beneath the chainplates to lengthen the settee, a structural compromise baked into the boat rather than a sign of damage. Headroom is about six feet on centerline and drops fast off to the sides because of the cabintop camber, so a tall buyer should sit where they actually sail before committing.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used 28-2s commonly fitted with a furling main, a spinnaker, and a chartplotter as standard market equipment. A less common owner upgrade is a short-handed sail-handling setup, worth noting if singlehanded use is the plan. Diesel power was factory-optional from the start, with Yanmar or Universal engines reported between 11 and 18 horsepower; verify the installation and access on any candidate.
What to Inspect
Owners report a leaking hull-to-deck joint and mediocre woodwork fitting as routine complaints, alongside too-small cockpit drains and plastic seacock valves. Inadequate backing plates under deck hardware are another owner-reported shortfall. One new boat showed a large hull crack aft of the primary sheet winches that had been concealed with auto body filler, so any hard-used racer warrants close inspection of that molding area and honest survey of structural repairs.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Newport 28-2 appears in the United States and Canada as a common used cruiser-racer. When viewing, check the hull-to-deck seam, confirm backing plates at winches and chainplates, inspect any hull repair aft of the sheet winches, and decide early whether the starboard-galley oven layout's bulkhead cut is acceptable. Prefer a tiller over a wheel for sheet reach from the helm, and verify diesel access through the cockpit sole hatch on later models.
- Inspect hull-to-deck joint for leaks
- Check backing plates at hardware and chainplates
- Examine hull molding aft of primary winches for prior crack repair
- Confirm galley layout and starboard bulkhead compromise
- Verify engine access and diesel installation
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Newport 28-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $9,950 | — |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $9,314 | -6.4% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $12,900 | +38.5% |
| May 26 | 3 | $5,900 | -54.3% |
Where they're listed
Newport 28-2 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 5 (71.4%), followed by Canada.
Country view
7 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $5,900 | 5 | 0 | 71.4% |
| Canada | $11,107 | 2 | 0 | 28.6% |
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' | $ 9,709 | 30 | 10 |
| Hunter 28.5 | 28.42' | $ 12,800 | 25 | 9 |
| Sabre 28-2 | 28.42' | $ 14,500 | 15 | 7 |
| Jeanneau First 28 | 28.21' | $ 26,593 | 12 | 3 |
| Newport 28-2You are here | — | $ 5,900 | 7 | 0 |