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Ericson 28 2
Designer: Bruce King  ·  Builder: Ericson Yachts  ·  First built: 1986
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About the Ericson 28 2

Originally introduced as an evolution of Ericson's popular 28-foot platform, this coastal cruiser represents the California builder's commitment to creating accessible family sailboats during their productive years. Bruce King's design influence can be seen in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics that made Ericson yachts well-regarded among recreational sailors. The 28-2 variant incorporated refinements learned from its predecessor, featuring improved interior layouts and updated deck hardware arrangements. Built with solid fiberglass construction typical of the era, these boats earned reputations for durability and straightforward maintenance requirements that appeal to both novice and experienced owners. Coastal cruising represents this boat's sweet spot, offering comfortable accommodations for weekend getaways and extended harbor-hopping adventures. The design balances sailing performance with practical living space, making it suitable for couples or small families exploring protected waters and nearshore sailing areas. While not built for serious offshore passages, the 28-2 handles typical coastal conditions confidently. Its moderate displacement and traditional underbody provide predictable sailing characteristics that build crew confidence. Today, these boats attract sailors seeking proven designs with established parts availability and active owner communities for support and knowledge sharing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.33 ft / 7.11 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 7,500.00 lb / 3,402 kg
Ballast 3,200.00 lb / 1,451 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 411.00 ft² / 38.18 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bruce King
Builder Ericson Yachts
First Built 1986
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Performance Ratios
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
17.22
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
21.82
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
2.05
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. 6.47
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
2.07
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. 833.61
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 36.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 35.5
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.0
SA Fore 216.0
SA Main 195.25
How It Compares

vs. Pearson 28 1975 80, Precision 28, S2 85

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ericson 28 2 ★
28.0 ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
28.0 ft
Precision 28
28.0 ft
S2 85
28.0 ft
LWL
Ericson 28 2 ★
23.3 ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
24.0 ft
Precision 28
23.0 ft
S2 85
22.5 ft
Beam
Ericson 28 2 ★
10.0 ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
9.3 ft
Precision 28
10.0 ft
S2 85
9.5 ft
Displacement
Ericson 28 2 ★
7 lbs
Pearson 28 1975 80
7 lbs
Precision 28
5 lbs
S2 85
7 lbs
Ballast
Ericson 28 2 ★
3 lbs
Pearson 28 1975 80
3 lbs
Precision 28
1 lbs
S2 85
3 lbs
Sail Area
Ericson 28 2 ★
411 sq ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
395 sq ft
Precision 28
S2 85
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ericson 28 2 ★
17.2
Pearson 28 1975 80
16.1
Precision 28
S2 85
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ericson 28 2 ★
Pearson 28 1975 80
45.0 %
Precision 28
34.6 %
S2 85
39.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ericson 28 2 ★
21.8
Pearson 28 1975 80
24.9
Precision 28
S2 85
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ericson 28 2 ★
2.05
Pearson 28 1975 80
1.86
Precision 28
S2 85
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ericson 28 2 ★
Pearson 28 1975 80
253
Precision 28
201
S2 85
297
Hull Speed
Ericson 28 2 ★
6.5 kts
Pearson 28 1975 80
6.6 kts
Precision 28
S2 85
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ericson 28 2 ★
2.1
Pearson 28 1975 80
2.0
Precision 28
S2 85
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