Seal 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Seal 28 means looking at a small lifting-keel cruiser designed by Angus Primrose and built by John Baker Ltd. between 1976 and 1982, with 80 produced. She is a 28-foot masthead sloop with six berths and a genuine three-cabin layout, aimed at coastal cruising rather than offshore work, and the used examples that survive are now well into their service lives.
Layouts on the Used Market
The boat was built to one principal interior plan: three cabins, six berths, a galley, and a toilet. You are not choosing between varied factory layouts, so condition and owner modification are what separate one boat from another. The lifting keel means the saloon or companionway area must accommodate the keel trunk, and that fixed geometric fact shapes how the belowdecks space feels on any individual hull.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Autopilots and chartplotters are commonly fitted, which together form the modern navigation and steering core a buyer can expect to find already aboard. Often-seen gear includes spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker setups for downwind work, a dodger for cockpit shelter, teak decks as a period or refit cosmetic choice, and a life raft for safety compliance. For a buyer, the navigation cluster means less to add; the sail-handling and safety items are the variables to check for condition and certification.
What to Inspect
The lifting keel is the central thing to examine. Because the keel raises and lowers vertically through a trunk, that trunk and its seals are where water finds its way in over time keel trunk vulnerability. On a viewing, look closely at the trunk sides and the hull-deck joint for staining or softness, and check the keel pivot and sealing for play or weepage. The iron ballast of 2,900 pounds sits in a lifting assembly, so any corrosion or movement there is a structural and safety matter, not a cosmetic one. Given the 258-square-foot wetted surface and deep loading of the hull, also watch for general structural fatigue around the keel area where the boat works hardest.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in the United Kingdom and Netherlands. A short checklist for a viewing:
- Inspect the lifting-keel trunk for stains or softness
- Check keel pivot and seals for play or weepage
- Verify iron ballast shows no structural corrosion
- Confirm autopilot and chartplotter function
- Examine spinnaker gear and life raft certification
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Seal 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $5,429 | — |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $15,720 | +189.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $4,756 | -69.7% |
| May 26 | 1 | $4,077 | -14.3% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $10,847 | +166.1% |
Where they're listed
Seal 28 listings appear across 2 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 6 (85.7%), followed by Netherlands.
Country view
7 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $5,092 | 6 | 1 | 85.7% |
| Netherlands | $15,720 | 1 | 0 | 14.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 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' | $ 9,705 | 30 | 10 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 17,976 | 15 | 5 |
| One-Off 28 | 28.18' | $ 40,756 | 14 | 2 |
| Jeanneau First 28 | 28.21' | $ 26,586 | 12 | 3 |
| Seal 28You are here | — | $ 5,429 | 7 | 1 |
| Southerly 28 | 28' | $ 12,230 | 7 | 3 |