Newport 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Newport 28 means weighing a C&C-designed, Capital Yachts–built cruiser-racer produced from 1974 through 1987 in Harbor City, California, with nearly 1,000 hulls across the run. The 1983 arrival of the Newport 28-II brought a reconfigured keel and rudder and a single-piece liner, and that later boat is the more modern version most buyers prefer. Knowing which layout and which known weak points matter will steer a brokerage search far more than cosmetic polish.
Layouts on the Used Market
Three basic interior arrangements were offered over the years, but later boats kept only the two aft-galley versions. The V-berth and port-side head forward stayed essentially unchanged, while the aft galley could be port or starboard. The starboard-aft galley is the only one with a stove and oven, yet the chainplate-side bulkhead was cut to lengthen the settee, conceding some structure. Berth count is five, but only the V-berth truly takes two adults; quarter berths are cramped for average-sized crew. Headroom exceeds six feet on centerline but drops off fast away from it due to cabintop camber.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power is the first divide: early boats standardized on the Universal Atomic-4 gasoline engine, while many original owners opted for Yanmar or Universal diesels, and diesel became standard only with the 28-II. Reported diesel outputs run 11–18 hp. A tiller is standard, but a fair number of boats carry wheel steering from factory or retrofit; the pedestal frees cabin space yet pushes the helmsman to the stern where sheets are out of reach, a real drawback on a 28-footer. A foredeck anchor locker holds a proper anchor and roughly 150 feet of half-inch rode, a useful standard feature. Later models added a flush cockpit-sole hatch over the engine, solving the awful access of early years.
What to Inspect
Leaks at the deck-to-hull joint have always been a common complaint, so examine the inward-flange fastening through the aluminum toe rail closely. Owners also report mediocre woodwork fit, cockpit drains that are too small, plastic through-hull valves, and inadequate backing plates for hardware. On boats with the cockpit hatch, the small surrounding drains and seals must be clear and sound to keep the cockpit watertight. One new boat showed a hull crack aft of the primary winches patched with auto body filler—check that area on hard-used racers. That starboard galley’s bulkhead removal is a designed compromise, not damage, but worth noting for structural intent.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability is not specified in available market summaries; expect to search broadly. For a buyer, the checklist is short: prefer a 28-II for the modern keel, liner, and better engine access; avoid wheel steering unless sheet handling is relocated; verify deck joint and cockpit drains; confirm diesel hp if repower matters; inspect starboard bulkhead if the aft-galley layout is present.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Newport 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 2 | $19,000 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 28 | 28.5' | $ 25,000 | 38 | 7 |
| Jeremy Rogers 28 | 27.67' | $ 9,710 | 30 | 11 |
| Thames Marine 28 | 27.5' | $ 11,487 | 21 | 4 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 17,946 | 15 | 5 |
| Jeanneau First 28 | 28.21' | $ 26,595 | 12 | 3 |
| Islander 28 | 27.92' | $ 12,500 | 7 | 3 |