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Morgan Out Island 28
Designer: Charles Morgan  ·  Builder: Morgan Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Morgan Out Island 28

Built during the mid-1970s, this Charles Morgan-designed cruiser represents a classic approach to comfortable coastal sailing. The Out Island 28's moderate proportions and traditional styling made it popular among sailors seeking a capable family cruiser that could handle weekend getaways and extended coastal voyages with equal confidence. The design emphasizes seaworthiness over speed, with a comfortable cockpit and spacious interior that accommodates up to six people. Her fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides predictable handling characteristics, while the masthead sloop rig keeps sail handling straightforward for small crews. The fiberglass construction was robust for its era, contributing to the boat's reputation for durability. With a displacement of 7,600 pounds and 3,000 pounds of ballast, the Out Island 28 offers reassuring stability in moderate conditions. The hull speed of 6.54 knots reflects her cruising-oriented nature rather than racing aspirations. Her draft of 3.50 feet allows access to most harbors while providing adequate directional stability. This design suits sailors prioritizing comfort and safety over performance, making it an excellent choice for coastal cruising, weekend sailing, and learning seamanship. The Out Island 28 remains sought after in the used boat market for its solid construction and proven seaworthiness.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$6,300 – $12,500
typical asking price
Median $9,400  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$6,300 – $12,500 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.42 ft / 8.66 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.83 ft / 7.26 m
Beam 9.25 ft / 2.82 m
Max Draft 3.50 ft / 1.07 m
Displacement 7,600.00 lb / 3,447 kg
Ballast 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 366.00 ft² / 34.00 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Charles Morgan
Builder Morgan Yachts (USA)
First Built 1973
Last Built 1976
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
15.2
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
39.47
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
250.72
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
24.07
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
1.88
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. 6.54 kn
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
1.99
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. 787.61 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.21
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 35.50 ft / 10.82 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
SA Fore 186.38 ft² / 17.32 m²
SA Main 180.00 ft² / 16.72 m²
SA Total (100%) 366.38 ft² / 34.04 m²
Est. Forestay Length 37.02 ft / 11.28 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 18
Fuel Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
Water Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
How It Compares

vs. Ericson 28, Pearson 28 2, Sabre 28 2

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
28.4 ft
Ericson 28
28.5 ft
Pearson 28 2
28.5 ft
Sabre 28 2
28.4 ft
LWL
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
23.8 ft
Ericson 28
24.2 ft
Pearson 28 2
24.4 ft
Sabre 28 2
22.8 ft
Beam
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
9.3 ft
Ericson 28
10.5 ft
Pearson 28 2
9.8 ft
Sabre 28 2
9.2 ft
Displacement
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
7 lbs
Ericson 28
7 lbs
Pearson 28 2
7 lbs
Sabre 28 2
7 lbs
Ballast
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
3 lbs
Ericson 28
3 lbs
Pearson 28 2
2 lbs
Sabre 28 2
2 lbs
Sail Area
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
366 sq ft
Ericson 28
422 sq ft
Pearson 28 2
384 sq ft
Sabre 28 2
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
Ericson 28
180 s/nm
Pearson 28 2
192 s/nm
Sabre 28 2
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
15.2
Ericson 28
17.7
Pearson 28 2
16.8
Sabre 28 2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
39.5 %
Ericson 28
40.0 %
Pearson 28 2
36.4 %
Sabre 28 2
36.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
24.1
Ericson 28
19.9
Pearson 28 2
20.1
Sabre 28 2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
1.88
Ericson 28
2.15
Pearson 28 2
2.06
Sabre 28 2
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
250
Ericson 28
237
Pearson 28 2
215
Sabre 28 2
296
Hull Speed
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
6.5 kts
Ericson 28
6.6 kts
Pearson 28 2
6.6 kts
Sabre 28 2
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Morgan Out Island 28 ★
2.0
Ericson 28
2.3
Pearson 28 2
2.5
Sabre 28 2
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