Design and Construction
Holman's brief was a small voyager with the manners of a larger boat. The Twister blends a narrow hull, deep forefoot, and generous displacement into a long-keel offshore cruiser with a transom-hung rudder and encapsulated ballast anchor. Early boats were built in wood, followed by composite hulls with a GRP hull and timber decks and coachroof, and finally full GRP versions anchor. The early composite boats used marine plywood decks sheathed in GRP, a detail that matters for later care anchor. The hull itself is GRP with a long encapsulated keel and a transom-hung rudder that is simple and easily maintained anchor. At 28 feet overall with an 8-foot beam and roughly 9,500 pounds displacement against about 4,000 of ballast, the numbers describe a boat whose high ballast ratio contributes to stiffness and security when pressed anchor.
Rig and Handling
The original sailplan was a masthead sloop drawing, but the class is notable for how much it drifted from that sheet. Modifications were at times made by Uphams before the designer was even told, and some yachts carried altered rigs earlier than the drawing date anchor. The MkII plan, first drawn for Jack Holman's own Silver Twister, raised the mast a foot and moved it aft six inches — a change he later judged over-canvased and trimmed himself in 1967 anchor. A further MkIIa revision in 1971 cut a foot from the mast and shortened the mainsail foot anchor. The class association's warning that all Twisters are different, and some more different than others, is literal anchor.
Under way the boat is steady rather than quick anchor. Her SA/D near 14 and displacement-length ratio above 300 place her among the ultra-heavy cruisers, and she will not point as high as a fin-keeled boat, but she tracks well and holds a groove upwind anchor. In a breeze she stiffens and settles into a gentle rhythm; downwind the long keel keeps her straight and limits rolling anchor. The helm is light and predictable, and a single sailor can manage her, though the long keel demands planning in confined manoeuvres anchor. A capsize screening figure under 2.0 and a crossed-ocean record speak to her offshore intent anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is traditional and cosy, with limited headroom by modern standards and a long coachroof that gives good handholds on deck anchor. The cockpit is compact but deep, the side decks narrow but workable, and the galley simple but functional anchor. Saloon berths are comfortable for a 28-footer and storage is adequate for coastal use, manageable offshore with planning anchor. Ventilation varies by finishing yard and number of opening ports, and the limited interior volume suits a solo sailor or minimalist couple more than a crowd anchor.
Known Issues
The biggest maintenance concerns recorded for the design are deck core issues, chainplate knees, rudder fittings, and ageing systems anchor. The composite-era plywood decks sheathed in GRP are the structural weak point, where trapped moisture can attack the core anchor. Chainplate knees below deck are a known fatigue item, and the transom-hung rudder's fittings need attention with age. Early boats finished by different yards vary significantly in detail, so no two should be assumed identical anchor.
The Verdict
The Twister 28 is a small boat that behaves like a settled offshore cruiser. She asks for early reefing, a balanced sail plan, and patience in light airs, but she rewards the sailor with directional stability and a forgiving motion when conditions harden. Her long production and varied finishing mean careful individual inspection matters more than class generalities.
Pros
- Encapsulated ballast and robust transom-hung rudder arrangement
- Strong tracking and predictable motion offshore
- Manageable by a single sailor with light, predictable helm
Cons
- Deck core and chainplate knee issues on composite boats
- Slow-speed manoeuvring in marinas needs planning
- Limited interior volume and headroom
