Design and Construction
The Spirit 28 has a solid fiberglass hull and deck, a fin keel, and a spade rudder. Her 2,590 pounds of lead ballast is set in a displacement of 5,953 pounds, giving a ballast ratio of 43.5 percent. The Yachtdatabase review summarizes the ratio as 42 percent.
With a beam of 9 feet 3 inches, the boat has a moderate length-to-beam ratio of 3.02. Wetted surface is about 247 square feet. A displacement-length ratio near 229 and a comfort ratio of 19.7 describe a comparatively light, somewhat narrow coastal cruiser rather than a heavy offshore slug.
The theoretical hull speed is 6.4 knots. An immersion rate of roughly 727 pounds per inch indicates how firmly she settles onto her lines as weight comes aboard.
Rig, Draft, and Machinery
The Spirit 28 carries a masthead sloop rig. The sheet specifications give a practical picture of her running rigging:
- Jib and genoa sheets are each 27.9 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter.
- The mainsheet is 69.7 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter.
- The spinnaker sheet is 61.4 feet long, also with a 3/8-inch diameter.
These dimensions point to a straightforward, conventionally proportioned sloop rig for a 28-footer.
Depending on load, the fin keel draws between 5.09 and 5.39 feet. That keeps the Spirit 28 out of the shallowest berths but allows her to enter most marinas without drama. A shaft-drive transmission provides a simple, serviceable arrangement aft of the single engine.
Accommodations
The Spirit 28 is a 28-foot monohull with moderate beam and light displacement. With 284 hulls built, enough were produced to put a fair number on the water over the decades. However, the available information gives no accommodation plan beyond the boat’s basic dimensions.
Verdict
The Spirit 28 is a clean, early-1970s example of Van de Stadt’s design work. She is light on her lines, well ballasted for her size, and fitted with the simplest masthead configuration. Her structural and rig specifications suggest a boat that is easy to handle and berth, although no firsthand handling impressions are provided.
Pros
- A 42–43 percent ballast ratio in a 5,953-pound hull provides reassuring stability for the boat’s length.
- The fin keel’s 5.1–5.4-foot draft balances marina access with windward ability.
- The simple masthead sloop rig and standard 3/8-inch sheets should be easy to maintain and re-rig.
- With 284 hulls built, examples aren’t vanishingly rare.
Cons
- No accommodation plan or handling impressions are available beyond the bare specifications.
