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Columbia 28
Designer: William Crealock  ·  Builder: Columbia Yachts  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Columbia 28

First launched in the 1970s, this 28-foot sailboat emerged from Columbia Yachts during an era when the builder was establishing itself as a prominent manufacturer of affordable fiberglass cruising sailboats. Built with the coastal cruiser and weekend sailor in mind, the Columbia 28 represents the design philosophy of its time—prioritizing comfort, stability, and ease of handling over pure performance. The boat features a traditional layout with a spacious cockpit that accommodates crew comfortably while maintaining good sight lines for navigation. Below deck, the interior maximizes the available space with practical accommodations suitable for extended cruising or comfortable weekending. The moderate displacement hull strikes a balance between seaworthiness and sailing performance, making it well-suited for coastal exploration and protected water sailing. Columbia's reputation for building solid, reliable boats is evident in the 28's construction, which has allowed many examples to remain active decades after their launch. While not designed for racing or serious offshore passages, this boat excels as a capable coastal cruiser that offers good value for sailors seeking a blend of comfort, stability, and traditional sailing characteristics.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.58 ft / 8.41 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.67 ft / 6.61 m
Beam 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft 4.33 ft / 1.32 m
Displacement 6,500.00 lb / 2,948 kg
Ballast 2,800.00 lb / 1,270 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 343.00 ft² / 31.87 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG (solid laminate)
Designer William Crealock
Builder Columbia Yachts
First Built 1967
Related Sailboats ["Columbia 28 2" · "Catalina 275 Sport" · "Tanzer 28" · "Cal T2" · "Morgan 27"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 227
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.81
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 24.77
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.82
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.24
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.75
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 658.15
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 31.5
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.75
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.33
SA Fore 189.0
SA Main 151.54
How It Compares

vs. Cal T2, Catalina 275 Sport, Tanzer 28

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia 28 ★
27.6 ft
Cal T2
27.4 ft
Catalina 275 Sport
27.5 ft
Tanzer 28
27.6 ft
LWL
Columbia 28 ★
21.7 ft
Cal T2
22.3 ft
Catalina 275 Sport
24.0 ft
Tanzer 28
23.5 ft
Beam
Columbia 28 ★
8.5 ft
Cal T2
9.0 ft
Catalina 275 Sport
9.8 ft
Tanzer 28
9.8 ft
Displacement
Columbia 28 ★
6 lbs
Cal T2
5 lbs
Catalina 275 Sport
6 lbs
Tanzer 28
6 lbs
Ballast
Columbia 28 ★
2 lbs
Cal T2
2 lbs
Catalina 275 Sport
2 lbs
Tanzer 28
2 lbs
Sail Area
Columbia 28 ★
343 sq ft
Cal T2
349 sq ft
Catalina 275 Sport
340 sq ft
Tanzer 28
346 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Columbia 28 ★
227 s/nm
Cal T2
—
Catalina 275 Sport
194 s/nm
Tanzer 28
207 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Columbia 28 ★
15.8
Cal T2
18.2
Catalina 275 Sport
15.6
Tanzer 28
15.9
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia 28 ★
24.8
Cal T2
18.7
Catalina 275 Sport
—
Tanzer 28
19.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Columbia 28 ★
1.82
Cal T2
2.06
Catalina 275 Sport
—
Tanzer 28
2.11
Hull Speed
Columbia 28 ★
6.2 kts
Cal T2
6.3 kts
Catalina 275 Sport
—
Tanzer 28
6.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Columbia 28 ★
1.8
Cal T2
2.7
Catalina 275 Sport
—
Tanzer 28
2.4
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