Design and Construction
The hull is balsa cored and hand laid up per the Perry design review, carrying a lead ballast of 1,200 pounds against its 3,750-pound displacement for a ballast-displacement ratio of 32 percent. The keel/centerboard model draws 19 inches with the board up and 5 feet 6 inches with it down, while an ultra shoal draft variant is offered at 9 inches for those prioritizing ramp access and lightweight trailering at 2,400 pounds. Water ballast is available and is used as the standard ballast approach in the smaller Sea Pearl 21 lineage; on the 28 it is offered as the most practical option for ultra-shoal or lightweight trailering configurations, and positive flotation is available. The free-standing carbon fiber and "S" Glass masts each weigh only 37 pounds yet carry an 11,000-pound breaking strength, giving an extreme strength-to-weight ratio that serves the unstayed rig.
Rig and Handling
The unstayed cat-ketch rig is tabernacle-stepped with short masts that provide hands-off tacking and can be raised by one person using a mechanical strut and winch. The innovative mast tabernacle gives lateral support while raising and lowering, and the rigging can be set in less than 15 minutes out of the water. Because the masts are free-standing and work with the tabernacles, there are no boom travel restrictions; a fixed gooseneck and a mast that rotates in its socket let the mast and boom turn a full 360 degrees, so the booms can swing beyond ninety degrees to the centerline when running. This geometry greatly reduces the chance of an accidental jibe by providing better than 180 degrees of steering latitude. With full battens and lazy-jacks, the boat can be made ready quickly and the sails dropped with some dignity by simply releasing the halyard. The surprising sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.2, assumed by the reviewer to be without water ballast, speaks to a lively rig on a light hull.
Accommodations
Below, the Pearl 28 sleeps four in full-sized berths with a head tucked under the V-berth, though there are no staterooms and no privacy. Headroom is 5 feet 1 inch. The sliding galley stows under the starboard cockpit seat and rolls out over the starboard berth, incorporating a large draining sink with optional pressure water and a two-burner stove; its three-door cabinet yields usable storage and, when stowed, frees an 80-inch single berth plus space for two more adults in the cockpit. A matching port cabinet can be added for appliances or storage. Large opening ports, a large companionway, and a forward two-way hatch vent the spacious cabin. The boat carries 50 gallons of fresh water and an optional connecting panel set can enclose the cockpit with screens and weather flaps between dodger and bimini.
The Verdict
The Sea Pearl 28 is a purpose-built trailerable cruiser for sailors who value ramp-launched shallow drafting and rapid solo rigging over cabin privacy or bluewater hull form. Its rotating unstayed cat-ketch rig is genuinely clever, and the sliding galley is a smart space multiplier. Writing in boats.com's Perry Design Review, the reviewer noted the double-ended hull does little for performance but some boats need to be double-enders, and the low headroom and open plan suit a particular kind of cruising.
Pros
- One-person trailer launch, rig, and recovery with standard vehicle
- 15-minute free-standing rig with 360-degree mast rotation and jibe resistance
- Ultra-shoal 9-inch draft and water-ballast options for lightweight trailering
- Sliding galley frees berth space and adds cockpit seating
Cons
- 5-foot 1-inch headroom with no privacy or staterooms
- Double-ended hull form limits performance per design review
- Open-plan cabin unsuitable for those needing enclosed accommodation
