Shipman 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Shipman 28 means looking at a cruiser designed by Olle Enderlein and built from 1969 to 1979, about 1,000 of which were completed before the model ended. These are fiberglass fin-keel sloops with tiller steering and a teak interior, supported by an active Danish class club that still races them. On the brokerage market they turn up across northern Europe rather than in any single region.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 28 is a two-cabin boat with a bow V-berth, a main saloon settee and dinette, and an aft starboard single; folding the nav table adds two berths for six total. The port-side galley at the companionway has a two-burner stove and single sink, with the head just aft of the bow cabin. Headroom is 71 inches in the main cabin, less in saloon and aft. Buyers should note the early versus late production split: until 1974 a Faryman 12 hp with hydraulic transmission, after that a Yanmar YSE8 or Farymann 12 hp, all shaft-driven.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market these boats commonly carry an autopilot, bimini, teak decks, and chartplotter, with an inverter often seen. Less common owner upgrades include cabin heating, spinnaker, electric winches, and AIS. For a buyer, the chartplotter and autopilot speak to modern shorthanded navigation, while teak decks and bimini are comfort and protection items worth inspecting for age. An inverter supports shore-power independence; heating and a spinnaker are nice-to-have rather than core.
What to Inspect
The known documentation centers on propulsion variation rather than structural defects: confirm which engine is fitted, as the hydraulic transmission on pre-1974 Faryman units differs from later shaft-drive Yanmar or Farymann installations, and verify the shaft and driveline condition accordingly. Check the iron fin keel for corrosion at the hull joint and the teak interior for the usual deck-leak staining given period construction.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, Germany, and Italy. For a shopper, the checklist is short: confirm engine and transmission era, inspect iron keel and teak for age, verify the core sail inventory and any added electronics, and join the Danish class club for support. A narrow, heavy, well-ballasted hull makes a sound small cruiser if the period systems are sound.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Shipman 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 4 | $6,371 | — |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $22,532 | +253.7% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $2,062 | -90.8% |
| Mar 26 | 3 | $14,944 | +624.7% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $19,897 | +33.1% |
| May 26 | 4 | $9,429 | -52.6% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $9,980 | +5.8% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $4,566 | -54.2% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $7,722 | +69.1% |
Where they're listed
Shipman 28 listings appear across 8 countries. Denmark has the most listings with 6 (26.1%), followed by Germany and Netherlands.
Country view
23 listings · 8 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | $6,965 | 6 | 2 | 26.1% |
| Germany | $7,626 | 4 | 2 | 17.4% |
| Netherlands | $6,661 | 4 | 2 | 17.4% |
| Portugal | $33,595 | 4 | 0 | 17.4% |
| Ireland | $9,760 | 2 | 0 | 8.7% |
| United Kingdom | $10,693 | 1 | 1 | 4.3% |
| Italy | $14,944 | 1 | 0 | 4.3% |
| Norway | $2,062 | 1 | 0 | 4.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipman 28You are here | — | $ 8,109 | 23 | 7 |
| Jeanneau First 28 | 28.21' | $ 26,527 | 12 | 3 |
| Nordship 28 | 28.71' | $ 22,637 | 10 | 2 |
| Great Dane Dane 28 | 28' | $ 12,242 | 7 | 3 |