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East Anglian 28
Designer: Alan Buchanan  ·  Builder: William King (Uk)  ·  First built: 1957
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About the East Anglian 28

Originally developed as a capable coastal cruiser, this 28-foot sailboat emerged from British boatbuilding traditions with an emphasis on seaworthiness and practical sailing characteristics. The East Anglian 28 represents the kind of thoughtful design philosophy that prioritized reliability over flashy performance numbers. Built with a moderate displacement hull and traditional lines, this vessel demonstrates the classic balance between comfort and sailing ability that defined many successful cruising designs of its era. The boat's proportions suggest it was intended for weekend coastal adventures and extended cruising rather than pure racing applications, though it likely holds its own in club racing scenarios. What sets the East Anglian 28 apart is its reputation for solid construction and predictable handling characteristics. Sailors who have owned these boats often praise their ability to handle challenging conditions with confidence, making them suitable for those looking to venture beyond protected waters into more demanding coastal environments. For prospective buyers seeking a traditional cruising sailboat with proven offshore capabilities, the East Anglian 28 offers the kind of honest sailing characteristics and robust build quality that has kept examples of this design actively sailing for decades after their initial launch.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.75 ft / 8.46 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 9,300.00 lb / 4,218 kg
Ballast 4,600.00 lb / 2,087 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Alan Buchanan
Builder William King (UK)
First Built 1957
Number Built 70
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
49.46
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
448.31
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. 3.6 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 9.98
P (Mainsail Luff) 275.00 ft² / 25.55 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Stuart Turner
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 4
How It Compares

vs. Atlante, Indra 28, Stella 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
East Anglian 28 ★
27.8 ft
Atlante
27.8 ft
Indra 28
27.7 ft
Stella 26
27.8 ft
LWL
East Anglian 28 ★
21.0 ft
Atlante
21.0 ft
Indra 28
20.0 ft
Stella 26
20.0 ft
Beam
East Anglian 28 ★
8.0 ft
Atlante
8.1 ft
Indra 28
8.0 ft
Stella 26
7.5 ft
Displacement
East Anglian 28 ★
9 lbs
Atlante
5 lbs
Indra 28
5 lbs
Stella 26
6 lbs
Ballast
East Anglian 28 ★
4 lbs
Atlante
Indra 28
2 lbs
Stella 26
2 lbs
Sail Area
East Anglian 28 ★
Atlante
260 sq ft
Indra 28
313 sq ft
Stella 26
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
East Anglian 28 ★
Atlante
13.7
Indra 28
15.3
Stella 26
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
East Anglian 28 ★
49.5 %
Atlante
Indra 28
Stella 26
46.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
East Anglian 28 ★
Atlante
21.9
Indra 28
26.0
Stella 26
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
East Anglian 28 ★
Atlante
1.86
Indra 28
1.76
Stella 26
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
East Anglian 28 ★
448
Atlante
255
Indra 28
Stella 26
337
Hull Speed
East Anglian 28 ★
Atlante
6.1 kts
Indra 28
6.0 kts
Stella 26
Speed Number (higher = faster)
East Anglian 28 ★
Atlante
1.8
Indra 28
1.4
Stella 26
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