Design and Construction
Gary Mull drew the Ranger 28 in the mid-1970s as a Half Ton rule contender, and the result is a 28-foot fiberglass hull with wood trim carrying 2,792 pounds of lead ballast inside a fixed fin keel. At a displacement of 5,081 pounds with a 9.58-foot beam and 21.67-foot waterline, the boat sits in the moderate-racer band: its displacement-length ratio of about 225 places it lighter than 58 percent of similar designs, while the length-beam ratio of 2.94 makes the hull roomier below than 66 percent of comparable sailboats. The hull is solid fiberglass with an internally mounted spade rudder hung on a skeg, a configuration that keeps the helm clear of the keel's wake but leaves the rudder stock dependent on its skeg for support.
Rig and Handling
The Ranger 28 carries a masthead sloop rig with a 36-foot foretriangle and a 31.5-foot main luff, producing a total sail area of 389 square feet. Period database analysis rates the boat as significantly overrigged, carrying more sail plan than 76 percent of similar sailboats, which suits the Half Ton racing intent but asks for disciplined crew work off the wind. A standard fin-keel model shows a PHRF average of 180, while the early tall-mast version built as serial numbers 1 through 86 rates 183. From hull 87 onward the tall-mast model received a deeper keel and returned to a 180 average handicap. The theoretical hull speed is 6.24 knots, with a calculated top speed near 8.4 knots and a capsize screening value of 2.22 that would exclude it from ocean-race acceptance.
Accommodations and Layout
Below the waterline the Ranger 28 draws 4.5 feet with the standard keel, shallow enough for modest marinas, and carries only 13 gallons of fresh water. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 16.5 is more comfortable than just 21 percent of similar designs, marking the boat as stiff and quick rather than a soft-riding cruiser. The wetted surface of about 226 square feet and immersion rate of 715 pounds per inch describe a light, responsive hull that reacts visibly to load and crew movement.
Known Issues
The known constraints are inherent to the design rather than to faulty construction: the capsize screening value restricts offshore racing eligibility, and the low Motion Comfort Ratio confirms a firm, athletic motion in a seaway. The shallow fresh-water capacity and light displacement demand careful weight management rather than indicating a material failure.
Refits and Ownership
Owners fitting the Ranger 28 for continued use will find a Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine of 30 horsepower as the standard inboard, a simple and well-documented powerplant for the era. The overrigged masthead plan means running rigging such as the 82.8-foot, 5/16-inch halyards and 70-foot mainsheet should be inspected for age, but no model-specific weakness in the deck or hull joint is part of the design record.
The Verdict
The Ranger 28 is a focused Mull Half Ton design: light, overcanvased, and quick, built in tiny numbers during a two-year window. It rewards a racing-minded owner who values responsiveness over bluewater certification, and its scarcity makes a clean example worth a close look.
Pros
- Gary Mull Half Ton class pedigree with 130-boat rarity
- Light displacement and roomy beam for the length
- Standard PHRF 180, competitive in fleet racing
Cons
- Capsize screening value bars ocean racing
- Low comfort ratio means a firm ride
- Minimal 13-gallon water capacity
