With a displacement of 6,400 pounds, 1,980 pounds of iron ballast, and a beam of 9 feet 11 inches, the Magnam sits at the roomy end of the trailerable spectrum while retaining the agility suggested by its length.
Design and Construction
The solid, hand-laid fiberglass hull was offered in white or blue. The white GRP deck uses Airex sandwich construction, which keeps weight reasonable while adding stiffness overhead. The hull and deck are glued and fastened, then laminated together.
The lower hull has a solid ballast system that Canadian Boating found provided adequate stability and made the boat stiff and comfortable. Inside, marine-grade plywood in oak or mahogany is combined with solid-wood joinery, GRP hull and cabin liners, and teak-and-holly floors.
The flat, open deck is easy to move around, helped by double lifelines. At the bow, a functional pulpit incorporates a seat for enjoying the view underway or at anchor. A kick-up rudder with easily accessible control lines simplifies beaching. The cockpit is deep and safe, with a lifting swim platform that folds up to close off the stern.
Rig, Keels, and Handling
The Magnam carries a 7/8 fractional sloop rig with double spreaders, internal halyards, and stainless-steel standing rigging throughout. All halyards and control lines lead to the cockpit, an arrangement Canadian Boating credited with supporting single-handed sailing. The mast system also allows the spar to be dropped effortlessly for trailering.
A mainsail and furling jib provide 380 square feet of working sail: a 223-square-foot main and a 157-square-foot jib.
The swing-keel model draws 1 foot 2 inches with the board up and 4 feet 7 inches with it down. That range supports transportation, trailer launching, and access to shallow water. The fin-keel variant gives up that versatility in exchange for enhanced stability. The robust design ensures excellent handling in challenging conditions, from strong gales to large waves.
Accommodations
The Magnam has 6 feet of headroom and customizable layouts with two, four, or six berths. Both bow and stern cabins are available, and the interior can be arranged to suit an owner’s cruising style.
Canadian Boating found ample room for four adults, including a twin berth forward and a surprisingly generous aft berth. The accommodations also include a head with a shower and a full galley with a stove. Solid, well-hung cabinetry and extensive storage appear throughout.
The builder positioned the Magnam as combining the agility of a smaller boat with the spacious accommodations generally associated with larger vessels, making it equally suited to weekend trips and extended blue-water passage making.
Equipment and Ownership
Because the Magnam could be configured extensively—from deck layout to sailing hardware—the as-delivered equipment may vary widely between boats.
Standard deck hardware includes:
- Pushpit and pulpit
- Six stanchions with double lifelines
- Fore and aft mooring cleats
- Retractable stainless-steel ladder
- Four hatches
- Dual cabin-side windows
Sailing hardware includes two winches with cleats, two jib tracks with cars, two triple organizer blocks, and two triple stoppers with cleats. The electrical specification covers a fused main panel, shore power, interior lighting, and navigation lights.
Buyers could choose wheel or tiller steering. Auxiliary power comes from a 10- to 15-horsepower Honda outboard, more than enough to push the boat alone. Fresh-water and holding-tank capacity is 16 gallons each, which suits shorter stretches rather than long, self-sufficient voyages.
Known Issues
The swing-keel versions use a 220-pound pivoting foil. Its pivot and trunk seals are natural wear points over a trailer-sailer’s service life. Buyers should expect those areas to require attention rather than regard them as recorded faults.
The builder’s specification placed an asterisk beside the hull windows, a signal that each fixed light deserves close inspection for leaks or framing cracks.
The Verdict
The Tes 28 Magnam is a genuinely versatile small cruiser. It earns its trailerable credentials without pretending to be anything less than a proper coastal and, in fin-keel form, offshore-capable yacht.
The swing-keel model offers shallow-water access and easy launching, while the fin-keel version provides enhanced stability. Configurable layouts and hardware allow the boat to suit a wide range of cruising ambitions.
Pros
- Swing keel draws 1 foot 2 inches when raised for trailering and shallow-water access; fin-keel variant offers enhanced stability
- All lines lead to the cockpit for single-handed handling, and the mast drops effortlessly
- Configurable two-, four-, or six-berth interior with bow and stern cabins and 6 feet of headroom
- Solid lower-hull ballast system provided stiffness and comfort in the period review
Cons
- Swing-keel pivot and trunk seals are inherent wear points on the trailerable version
- Sixteen-gallon water and holding tanks suit shorter stretches, not long, self-sufficient voyages
