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Queen Bee 28
Designer: A. K. Balfour  ·  Builder: Dixon Kerly Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1955
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About the Queen Bee 28

Designed by A. K. Balfour and built by Dixon Kerly Ltd. in the UK starting in 1955, this traditional wooden sailboat represents classic British yacht design from the mid-20th century. The carvel-planked hull features a long keel with transom-hung rudder configuration, providing excellent directional stability and seakindly motion in challenging conditions. With her substantial 10,640-pound displacement and conservative sail area of 300 square feet, the Queen Bee 28 prioritizes comfort and seaworthiness over speed. The impressive comfort ratio of 41.55 indicates a boat well-suited for extended coastal cruising, while the capsize screening formula of 1.55 suggests good offshore capability for experienced sailors. Her masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail handling, making her manageable for small crews. The 5-foot draft allows access to deeper anchorages while maintaining the tracking benefits of a full keel. At 27.25 feet overall with an 8.5-foot beam, she offers reasonable interior volume for weekend cruising or longer coastal passages. This design appeals to sailors who value traditional construction, predictable handling characteristics, and the satisfying experience of sailing a well-built wooden yacht from Britain's golden age of yacht design.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.25 ft / 8.31 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
Beam 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 10,640.00 lb / 4,826 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 300.00 ft² / 27.87 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Wood - carvel
Designer A. K. Balfour
Builder Dixon Kerly Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1955
Owner Reviews

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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
9.96
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
512.9
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
41.55
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
1.55
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. 6.14 kn
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. 637.80 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 27 Weekender, Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft, Fingal, Pintail Rossiter, Tumlaren

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Queen Bee 28 ★
27.3 ft
Bristol 27 Weekender
27.2 ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
27.3 ft
Fingal
27.3 ft
Pintail Rossiter
27.3 ft
Tumlaren
27.3 ft
LWL
Queen Bee 28 ★
21.0 ft
Bristol 27 Weekender
19.8 ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
21.4 ft
Fingal
21.2 ft
Pintail Rossiter
23.0 ft
Tumlaren
21.8 ft
Beam
Queen Bee 28 ★
8.5 ft
Bristol 27 Weekender
8.0 ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
8.6 ft
Fingal
7.5 ft
Pintail Rossiter
8.8 ft
Tumlaren
6.3 ft
Displacement
Queen Bee 28 ★
10 lbs
Bristol 27 Weekender
6 lbs
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
8 lbs
Fingal
6 lbs
Pintail Rossiter
11 lbs
Tumlaren
3 lbs
Ballast
Queen Bee 28 ★
Bristol 27 Weekender
2 lbs
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
3 lbs
Fingal
2 lbs
Pintail Rossiter
4 lbs
Tumlaren
2 lbs
Sail Area
Queen Bee 28 ★
300 sq ft
Bristol 27 Weekender
313 sq ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
Fingal
340 sq ft
Pintail Rossiter
350 sq ft
Tumlaren
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Queen Bee 28 ★
10.0
Bristol 27 Weekender
14.3
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
Fingal
15.4
Pintail Rossiter
10.9
Tumlaren
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Queen Bee 28 ★
Bristol 27 Weekender
39.0 %
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
40.0 %
Fingal
39.6 %
Pintail Rossiter
40.3 %
Tumlaren
51.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Queen Bee 28 ★
41.6
Bristol 27 Weekender
29.1
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
Fingal
30.7
Pintail Rossiter
41.3
Tumlaren
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Queen Bee 28 ★
1.55
Bristol 27 Weekender
1.71
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
Fingal
1.59
Pintail Rossiter
1.55
Tumlaren
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Queen Bee 28 ★
512
Bristol 27 Weekender
382
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
363
Fingal
314
Pintail Rossiter
427
Tumlaren
170
Hull Speed
Queen Bee 28 ★
6.1 kts
Bristol 27 Weekender
6.0 kts
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
Fingal
6.2 kts
Pintail Rossiter
6.4 kts
Tumlaren
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