Design and Construction
The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass offered in white or blue, while the deck is white GRP built as an Airex sandwich — a combination that keeps weight reasonable while the deck core adds stiffness overhead. Hull and deck are glued and fastened, then laminated together, and the lower hull carries a solid ballast system that Canadian Boating found provided adequate stability and made the boat stiff and comfortable. The interior is built from marine-grade plywood in oak or mahogany options with solid wood joinery, set against GRP hull and cabin liners, and finished with teak and holly floors. The flat open deck is easy to move around on, aided by double lifelines, and forward there is a functional bow pulpit with a seat for enjoying the view under way or at anchor. A kick-up rudder with easy-access control lines makes beaching straightforward, and the cockpit is deep and safe, closed off by a lifting swim platform that folds up to seal the stern.
Rig and Handling
The Magnam uses a 7/8 fractional sloop rig with double spreaders, internal halyards, and stainless steel standing rigging throughout. All halyards and control lines are led to the cockpit, a layout Canadian Boating credited for single-handed sailing, and the mast system is simple enough to drop the spar effortlessly for trailing. The boat comes with a mainsail and furling jib, the two delivering 380 square feet of working sail with a 223-square-foot main and 157-square-foot jib. The swing keel version draws just 1 foot 2 inches with the board up and 4 feet 7 inches down, enabling easy transportation, trailer launching, and access to shallow waters, while the fin keel variant trades that versatility for enhanced stability. The robust design ensures excellent handling in challenging conditions, from strong gales to large waves.
Accommodations
Below the ample 6-foot headroom, the Magnam offers customizable layouts for two, four, or six berths, with both bow and stern cabins and an interior that can be configured to match an owner's cruising style. Canadian Boating described space for four adults easily, with a twin berth forward and a surprisingly generous aft berth, a head with shower, and a full galley with stove. Solid, well-hung cabinetry and extensive storage are evident throughout, and the builder positioned the design as combining the agility of smaller boats with the spacious accommodations typically found in larger vessels — equally suited to weekend getaways and extended blue-water passage making.
Known Issues
The swing keel versions rely on a 220-pound pivoting foil whose pivot and trunk seals are the natural wear points over a trailer-sailer's service life; a buyer should expect these to need attention rather than treat them as a recorded fault. The builder's specification noted an asterisk against the hull windows, a signal that each fixed light deserves close inspection for leaks or framing cracks.
Refits and Ownership
Because the Magnam can be precisely configured from deck layout to sailing hardware, owners have a wide band of as-delivered equipment to account for when comparing boats. Standard deck hardware includes pushpit and pulpit, six stanchions with double lifelines, fore and aft mooring cleats, a retractable stainless ladder, four hatches, and dual cabin-side windows. Sailing hardware runs to two winches with cleats, two jib tracks with cars, two triple organizer blocks, and two triple stoppers with cleats. Electrical specification covers a fused main panel, shore power, interior lighting, and navigation lights. Steering was offered with either wheel or tiller, and the auxiliary is a Honda outboard of 10 to 15 horsepower, more than enough to push the boat alone.
The Verdict
The Tes 28 Magnam is a genuinely versatile small cruiser that earns its trailerable credentials without pretending to be anything less than a proper coastal and offshore-capable yacht in its fin-keel form. The swing keel version opens shallow waters and easy launching, while the builder's configurable layouts and hardware let the boat be matched to a wide range of cruising ambitions.
Pros
- Swing keel draws 1'2" up for trailering and shallow access; fin keel variant for enhanced stability
- All lines led to cockpit for single-handed handling with an effortless-drop mast
- Configurable two-, four-, or six-berth interior with bow and stern cabins and 6' headroom
- Solid lower-hull ballast system gives stiffness and comfort per period review
Cons
- Swing keel pivot and trunk seals are inherent wear points on the trailerable version
- Sixteen-gallon water and holding tanks suit short stretches, not long self-sufficient voyages
