This fin-keeled fiberglass monohull sits at the small end of the cruiser-racer spectrum. She has a moderate-racer temperament but was conceived as a proper sea boat rather than a pond sailor.
Design and Construction
The Stag 28 has a solid fiberglass hull and deck, with no core material in either. She displaces 7,500 pounds and carries 2,800 pounds of iron ballast. Draft varies from roughly 4.4 to 4.7 feet, depending on load.
Her proportions reflect a boat designed for balanced performance. A length-to-beam ratio of 2.84, a ballast ratio of 37 percent, and a displacement-length ratio of 223 place her firmly in the moderate-racer class.
The hull bottom has about 269 square feet of wetted surface. An immersion rate of 846 pounds per inch means she sits heavily for her length, a consequence of carrying 7,500 pounds of displacement on a 24.67-foot waterline.
Her capsize screening value is 2.01, below the threshold accepted for ocean racing. That indicates where her designer drew the line between coastal capability and bluewater ambition.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Stag 28 carries a masthead-sloop rig. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 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 are 28 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter. The mainsheet is 70 feet long at the same diameter, while the spinnaker sheets measure 61.6 feet.
Her theoretical hull speed is 6.7 knots with a calculated maximum near 4.9 knots. A Motion Comfort Ratio of 21.3 suggests a settled ride in a seaway for a boat of this size. The fin keel and transom-hung rudder provide the maneuverability expected of the type.
Equipment and Ownership
The only documented equipment baseline is the optional 13-horsepower Volvo Penta MD7A inboard diesel, a period-correct small auxiliary.
With fewer than 100 boats built, surviving Stag 28s represent a small part of one British yard’s output. Ownership therefore brings the usual considerations associated with a low-production fiberglass cruiser-racer of the era.
The Verdict
The Stag 28 is a small, honestly conceived British cruiser-racer, drawn by Peter Milne and molded by Emsworth Shipyard. Her numbers don’t define her as a bluewater boat, but they do describe a coherent coastal design with well-documented proportions and a known rig specification.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, with no core material to degrade
- Clearly documented 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
