Spirit 28 Information, Review, Specs

The boat was marketed as a family-friendly coastal cruiser that could hold its own in club racing, a niche it filled successfully throughout the late 1970s. While Glastron is primarily remembered for its iconic "SSV" hull powerboats, the Spirit line remains a respected footnote in their history, offering a level of interior volume and structural rigidity that was competitive with contemporaries like the Catalina 27 or the Hunter 27.

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Spirit 28 is characterized by a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, often cited by owners as providing a "stiff" and secure feel even as the wind freshens. Robert Finch utilized a fin keel and a spade rudder configuration, which reduced wetted surface area and allowed the boat to remain nimble in light air. With a displacement of approximately 6,500 pounds and nearly 2,600 pounds of lead ballast, the boat exhibits strong initial stability.

On the water, the Spirit 28 is known for its predictable tracking. Unlike some of its lighter contemporaries that tend to "hobby-horse" in a chop, the Spirit 28’s hull form carries enough mass to punch through coastal waves effectively. The sail plan is a standard masthead sloop, which is easily managed by a small crew. Technical notes from the era suggest a Sail Area-to-Displacement (SA/Disp) ratio in the range of 15.5 to 16, placing it firmly in the "cruiser" category but with enough efficiency to stay competitive in PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) fleets. The spade rudder provides sharp, responsive steering, though it requires a watchful eye on the bearings as the boat ages.

Interior Comfort & Variations

One of the Spirit 28’s strongest selling points was its interior volume, achieved through a generous beam of over nine feet. The layout is traditional for the era but feels surprisingly airy due to the 6'2" headroom—a luxury for a 28-foot boat designed in the 1970s. The cabin typically features a V-berth forward, a private head compartment to port, and a hanging locker to starboard. The main salon utilizes a settee to port and a dinette to starboard that can often be converted into a double berth.

The woodwork reflects the era's aesthetic, featuring a mix of teak trim and laminate surfaces. Glastron's influence is seen in the fiberglass headliner and integrated modules, which made the boat easier to clean and maintain compared to the wood-heavy interiors of traditionalist builders. While the 28 was the flagship of the "Spirit" line, it shared several design cues and production techniques with its smaller sibling, the Spirit 23, which was also a Robert Finch design. There were few major layout variations during the production run, though later models saw improvements in galley cabinetry and electrical panel accessibility.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Prospective buyers should approach a Spirit 28 with a specific focus on the structural "handshakes" where the 1970s fiberglass technology often shows its age.

• Mast Step and Compression: Like many deck-stepped boats of this era, the Spirit 28 is prone to compression issues. If the wooden block or compression post beneath the mast has rotted due to water ingress, the deck may "smile" or sag, leading to rig tension problems.
• Deck Delamination: The decks are balsa-cored. Owners on community forums frequently report soft spots around the chainplates and stanchion bases where sealant has failed over the decades, allowing water to saturate the core.
• Rudder Integrity: The spade rudder is a foam-filled fiberglass shell. Over time, water can enter the rudder through the top bearing, leading to internal corrosion of the stainless steel frame or delamination of the skins.
• Keel Bolt Inspection: The 2,600 lbs of ballast is held by stainless steel bolts. While generally robust, any sign of "weeping" at the keel-to-hull joint (often called a "smile") requires immediate inspection of the bolt torque and the structural grid.

Community & Resources

The Spirit 28 benefits from a niche but dedicated community of owners, many of whom cross-pollinate with the Classic Glastron Owners Association. While that group focuses heavily on powerboats, they maintain a respect for the "Spirit" era of the company's history. For technical specifications and historical context, the most reliable resources are archived discussions and owner-curated technical wikis found within broader sailing networks such as CruisersForum or SailNet, though no dedicated, standalone manufacturer website for the Spirit line currently exists.

The Verdict

The Spirit 28 is a robust, "big-feeling" pocket cruiser that offers excellent value for sailors entering the market. While it lacks the pedigree of premium bluewater brands, its Robert Finch design ensures it sails better than the average 1970s "condo-maran."

Pros:

• Exceptional headroom and interior volume for its length.
• Stable and forgiving handling characteristics in heavy air.
• Sturdier ballast-to-displacement ratio than many contemporary light-displacement boats.

Cons:

• Aging balsa-cored decks require careful moisture inspection.
• Spade rudder design is more vulnerable to debris than a skeg-hung rudder.
• Limited manufacturer support following Glastron’s pivot back to power-only production.