San Juan 28
About the San Juan 28
Designed by Don Clark and built by Clark Boat Company from 1977 onward, this 28-footer represents a solid entry into the world of mid-sized cruising sailboats. With 300 hulls produced, the San Juan 28 established itself as a respectable choice for sailors seeking a balance between performance and comfort. The boat's moderate displacement of 6,200 pounds, combined with 3,100 pounds of ballast, creates a stable platform that inspires confidence in coastal cruising conditions. Her fin keel with spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling and good upwind performance, while the masthead sloop rig with 385 square feet of sail area delivers adequate power for both weekend sailing and extended coastal passages. Notable characteristics include her well-proportioned 22.33-foot waterline length, which contributes to a theoretical hull speed of 6.33 knots. The comfort ratio of 18.41 suggests she'll provide a reasonably comfortable motion in moderate seas, though the capsize screening formula of 2.18 indicates she's best suited for protected waters and coastal sailing rather than offshore passages. This fiberglass construction boat appeals to sailors looking for their first "real" cruiser or those seeking an affordable entry into comfortable coastal cruising with occasional overnight capabilities.
Market Price Estimate
Beta
$4,000 – $6,500
typical asking price
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)
28.67 ft / 8.74 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
22.33 ft / 6.81 m
Beam
10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft
4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement
6,200.00 lb / 2,812 kg
Ballast
3,100.00 lb / 1,406 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
385.00 ft² / 35.77 m²
Headroom
6.17 ft / 1.88 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
Don Clark
Builder
Clark Boat Co. (USA)
First Built
1977
Number Built
300
Related Sailboats
Ericson 29 · Seafarer 29 · Ontario 28 · Lancer 29 3 · Columbia 87
Owner Reviews
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
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
186
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
18.31
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
50
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
248.59
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
18.41
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
2.18
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.
6.33 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
2.3
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.
797.88 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.
18.22
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
37.75 ft / 11.51 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
12.00 ft / 3.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
33.00 ft / 10.06 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
9.50 ft / 2.90 m
SA Fore
226.50 ft² / 21.04 m²
SA Main
156.75 ft² / 14.56 m²
SA Total (100%)
383.25 ft² / 35.61 m²
Est. Forestay Length
39.61 ft / 12.07 m
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity
22 gals / 83 L
Water Capacity
25 gals / 95 L
How It Compares
vs. Columbia 87, Ericson 29, Lancer 29 3, Ontario 28, Seafarer 29
This boat
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Dimensions
LOA
San Juan 28 ★
Columbia 87
Ericson 29
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Ontario 28
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LWL
San Juan 28 ★
Columbia 87
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Beam
San Juan 28 ★
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Displacement
San Juan 28 ★
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Ballast
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Sail Area
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Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
San Juan 28 ★
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SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
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Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
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Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
San Juan 28 ★
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Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
San Juan 28 ★
Columbia 87
Ericson 29
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Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
San Juan 28 ★
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Hull Speed
San Juan 28 ★
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Speed Number
(higher = faster)
San Juan 28 ★
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