Design and Construction
Mull drew the Ranger 28 in the mid-1970s as a Half Ton rule contender. The 28-foot hull is solid fiberglass with wood trim and displaces 5,081 pounds. A fixed fin keel carries 2,792 pounds of lead ballast.
With a 9.58-foot beam and a 21.67-foot waterline, the Ranger sits in the moderate-racer band. Its displacement-length ratio of about 225 makes it lighter than 58 percent of similar designs, while its length-beam ratio of 2.94 gives it more room below than 66 percent of comparable sailboats.
The internally mounted spade rudder hangs on a skeg. This arrangement keeps the helm clear of the keel’s wake, but leaves the rudder stock dependent on the skeg for support.
Rig, Keel Variants, and Performance
The Ranger 28 has a masthead sloop rig with a 36-foot foretriangle and a 31.5-foot main luff, for a total sail area of 389 square feet. Period database analysis rates it as significantly overrigged, with more sail plan than 76 percent of similar sailboats. That suits its Half Ton racing intent, but calls for disciplined crew work off the wind.
The standard fin-keel model has an average PHRF rating of 180. The early tall-mast version, comprising serial numbers 1 through 86, rates 183. From hull 87 onward, the tall-mast model received a deeper keel and returned to an average handicap of 180.
The boat’s theoretical hull speed is 6.24 knots, with a calculated top speed near 8.4 knots. Its capsize screening value is 2.22, which would exclude it from ocean-race acceptance.
Handling and Comfort
The standard keel draws 4.5 feet, shallow enough for modest marinas. Wetted surface is about 226 square feet, and the immersion rate is 715 pounds per inch. Together with the boat’s light displacement, those figures describe a responsive hull that reacts visibly to load and crew movement.
A Motion Comfort Ratio of 16.5 makes the Ranger 28 more comfortable than just 21 percent of similar designs. It is therefore better characterized as stiff and quick than as a soft-riding cruiser.
Accommodation and Capacity
The Ranger 28’s broad proportions help provide useful room below for its length. Fresh-water capacity, however, is only 13 gallons.
Known Constraints
The Ranger 28’s principal constraints are inherent in the design rather than signs of faulty construction. Its capsize screening value restricts offshore racing eligibility, while the low Motion Comfort Ratio points to a firm, athletic motion in a seaway. The small fresh-water supply and light displacement also call for careful weight management rather than indicating a material failure.
No model-specific weakness in the deck or hull joint is part of the design record.
Engine, Rigging, and Ownership
The standard inboard is a 30-horsepower Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, a simple and well-documented powerplant for its era.
Because of the overrigged masthead sail plan, running rigging should be inspected for age. The specified lines include 82.8-foot, 5/16-inch halyards and a 70-foot mainsheet.
The Verdict
The Ranger 28 is a focused Gary Mull Half Ton design: light, overcanvased, and quick, with only 130 boats built during a two-year production window. It suits a racing-minded owner who values responsiveness over bluewater certification. Given the model’s scarcity, a clean example is worth a close look.
Pros
- Gary Mull Half Ton class pedigree and 130-boat rarity
- Light displacement and a roomy beam for its length
- Standard PHRF rating of 180, competitive in fleet racing
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes it from ocean racing
- Low comfort ratio means a firm ride
- Minimal 13-gallon fresh-water capacity
