Twister 28 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Twister 28 is widely regarded as one of the most successful small offshore cruisers ever designed, a masterpiece from the board of naval architect Kim Holman. Originally conceived in 1963, the design’s reputation was cemented when Holman’s own boat, Twister of Mersea, dominated the East Coast racing circuit. While the design began as a bespoke wooden build at the J.W. & A. Upham yard in Brixham, its success necessitated a transition to semi-production construction. This evolution saw the Twister move from traditional clinker or carvel wooden hulls to a "composite" construction—featuring a GRP hull molded by the Tyler Boat Company with wooden decks and coachroofs finished by Upham—and eventually to the full GRP Mk II version. This vessel represents the pinnacle of the "English Folkboat" evolution, offering a more powerful, spacious, and seaworthy alternative to its predecessors while maintaining the timeless aesthetics of a traditional long-keeled yacht.