Design and Construction
Schöchl Yachtbau has built yachts in Austria for the last 60 years, and the 28.1 continues that lineage with a solid fiberglass hull and deck. The hull carries 809 kg of ballast against a 2,300 kg displacement, a 35.2 percent ratio the builder cites as a key to the yacht's high stability. That stability, paired with the large cockpit, is what the manufacturer describes as the combination making her a modern weekend sailor adapted to today's lifestyle. Three keel configurations are offered — standard, lifting, or shoal — and the slender 2.49 m beam lets her trail behind a suitable vehicle.
Rig and Handling
The 28.1 is a fractional sloop carrying a large mainsail and a self-tacking jib, with winches mounted on the cabin top to keep handling simple. Test sailors found the short tiller made steering light and responsive, and she turned quickly without effort or hesitation. Her big-dinghy feel means she responds to every twitch of the tiller, yet one person can handle her easily. The mainsheet runs from the aft deck to forward of the helm, staying clear of the cockpit and within reach of crew or helmsman. Standard Dacron sails are fitted, but owners can add a genoa, tracks, more winches, and race sails for more performance; a furling gennaker of 48 m² sets easily and its removable pole stows in the anchor locker.
Accommodations
Below, the 28.1 is open plan with no partition between the forward sleeping area and saloon, and the interior is neat, light, and well made. The manufacturer emphasizes a bright, spacious, and airy layout with 1.65 m standing height and berths longer than 2.1 m; Yachting Monthly notes the boat is without true standing headroom or a sink in the heads, a deliberate choice rather than an omission. Natural light comes from coachroof windows, an acrylic companionway hatch, and a flush curved forehatch that also ventilates well. The fixed portside galley serves short-holiday needs, the starboard enclosed toilet adds storage and privacy, and saloon berths fold back to make two extra beds for four adults total. The saloon table doubles as a cockpit table, and the large cockpit itself is a place to relax horizontally.
Known Issues
The known constraints are design choices rather than failures. The heads compartment was built without a sink, and the interior lacks standing headroom, both accepted by reviewers as intentional. The standard sail plan omits a bow roller, so anchoring requires the optional fitting. These are spec limits, not degradation modes.
The Verdict
The Sunbeam 28.1 is a coherent small cruiser that punches above her length for single-handed fun and family weekends. She is light on her feet, easy to drive, and open below without pretense. The trade-offs are real but honest: low headroom, a minimal heads, and anchoring only with the option fitted.
Pros
- Light, responsive helm with a big-dinghy feel
- Self-tacking jib and cabin-top winches make short-handed sailing simple
- Bright, open interior with berths for four and good ventilation
- Trailable on a narrow beam with keel options for varying depth
Cons
- No standing headroom or heads sink by design
- Bow roller and anchoring gear are optional, not standard
- Best suited to inland and coastal use rather than offshore passage
