Southerly 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Southerly 28 means weighing a Northshore product that launched the brand’s lifting-keel idea. John Bennett’s 28-foot motorsailer survives in reasonable numbers across three principal regions, and its two keel architectures shape both use and survey priorities.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 28 came from the factory with either a triple keel—ballast in a central keel with bilge wings for drying out in tide—or a stub keel with a retractable centreboard for coastal and inland water. Both share the same 28-foot hull, 9-foot beam, and five-berth interior with galley and toilet. A used buyer chooses between beaching ability and retractable-draft versatility rather than between different cabin plans.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a chartplotter, autopilot, and cabin heating as standard cruising kit, and writing in Berthon International’s history, the brand noted these models were commonly fitted for circumnavigation with reinforced ground tackle and rigging. Beyond that, buyers should focus on energy and self-steering: a diesel Volvo Penta MD2B of 25 horsepower on shaft drive is the original plant, so assess its service history rather than expect modern power. Canvas and sail-handling upgrades matter less than the keel mechanism’s condition.
What to Inspect
The single documented requirement from the builder is that keels with moving parts need regular inspection and maintenance per the owner’s manual. On centreboard versions, examine the board, pivot, and trunk for wear or water ingress; on triple keels, check the central ballast casting and the bilge keel bolts. Confirm the solid fibreglass hull and deck show no unrepaired impact damage around the keel intersections.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Southerly 28s turn up most often in the United Kingdom, United States, and Netherlands. For a buyer, the short list is: verify which keel type suits your waters, confirm centreboard or triple-keel service records, check the Volvo Penta MD2B, and expect chartplotter, autopilot, and heating as baseline equipment.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Southerly 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 1 | $4,900 | — |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $15,713 | +220.7% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $16,248 | +3.4% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $12,237 | -24.7% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $9,518 | -22.2% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $19,036 | +100.0% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $9,516 | -50.0% |
Where they're listed
Southerly 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 | $10,877 | 6 | 3 | 85.7% |
| Netherlands | $22,724 | 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
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oday 28 | 28.25' | $ 9,900 | 27 | 4 |
| Colvic Countess 28 | 28' | $ 10,488 | 23 | 3 |
| SOUTHERLY 100 | 33.75' | $ 37,051 | 22 | 2 |
| Southerly 28You are here | — | $ 12,237 | 7 | 3 |