Design and Construction
The Stag 28's hull is solid fiberglass, as is her deck, with no core material in either. Her proportions tell the story of a boat built for balanced performance: a length-to-beam ratio of 2.84 and a ballast ratio of 37 percent place her firmly in the moderate-racer class, while a displacement-length ratio of 223 confirms the same categorization. The wetted surface of the hull bottom is about 269 square feet, and her immersion rate of 846 pounds per inch means she sits heavily for her length — a consequence of that 7,500-pound displacement on a 24.67-foot waterline. The capsize screening value of 2.01 is below the threshold accepted for ocean racing, which tells you where her designer drew the line between coastal capability and bluewater ambition.
Rig and Handling
She is rigged as a masthead sloop with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 11.90 — modest by modern light-air standards but consistent with her moderate-racer designation. The standing and running rigging dimensions are fully documented: jib and genoa sheets run 28 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet is 70 feet long at the same diameter, and spinnaker sheets are 61.6 feet. Her theoretical hull speed is 6.7 knots with a calculated maximum near 4.9 knots, and the Motion Comfort Ratio of 21.3 suggests a settled ride in a seaway for a boat of this size. The transom-hung rudder and fin keel give her the maneuverability expected of the type.
Refits and Ownership
The only documented equipment baseline is the optional inboard Volvo Penta MD7A diesel at 13 horsepower, a period-correct small auxiliary. With fewer than 100 built, surviving examples represent a small population of a British yard's output, and ownership carries the usual considerations of a low-production fiberglass cruiser-racer of the era.
The Verdict
The Stag 28 is a small, honestly conceived British cruiser-racer from the pen of Peter Milne and the molds of Emsworth Shipyard. She is not a bluewater boat by her own numbers, but she is a coherent coastal design with documented proportions and a known rig specification.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with no core to degrade
- Clear specification across rig, ballast, and performance ratios
- Moderate-racer displacement-length and ballast ratios indicate balanced handling
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.01 excludes her from ocean-race acceptance
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance
- Fewer than 100 built, limiting parts commonality and fleet support
