Designed by renowned naval architect Robert Perry, this classic 28-footer represents the pinnacle of late 1970s coastal cruising design. Built by Islander Yachts from 1975 to 1985, the Islander 28 found favor among sailors seeking a capable pocket cruiser that could handle both weekend coastal adventures and extended cruising with confidence. Perry's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling, while the moderate displacement of 7,000 pounds offers a comfortable compromise between performance and load-carrying ability. With 3,000 pounds of ballast providing excellent stability, this masthead sloop design delivers the steady, predictable sailing characteristics that made Perry's designs legendary. The fiberglass solid hull construction with plywood decking reflects the quality standards of its era, and the 430 boats built during the model's ten-year production run speak to its market appeal. The sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.83 suggests spirited performance in moderate conditions, while the comfort ratio of 21.01 indicates this boat favors motion comfort over pure speed—ideal for coastal cruising and light offshore work where crew comfort matters as much as arrival time.
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What is the Islander 28's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Islander 28 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 15.83. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Islander 28's comfort ratio?
The Islander 28 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 21.01. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Islander 28 safe for offshore sailing?
The Islander 28 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 2.06. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Islander 28?
The theoretical hull speed of the Islander 28 is 6.44 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Islander 28 weigh?
The Islander 28 has a displacement of 7,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 27.92 ft.
How much does a used Islander 28 cost?
Based on 1 recent market listings, used Islander 28 sailboats typically sell for between $5,500 and $5,500, with a median asking price of $5,500. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Islander 28?
The Islander 28 was designed by Robert Perry, first built in 1975.