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Santana 28
Designer: Shad Turner  ·  Builder: W. D. Schock Corp.(Usa)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Santana 28

A popular choice among West Coast sailors since its introduction in the 1970s, the Santana 28 earned a strong reputation as a versatile and capable racer-cruiser. Designed by W.D. Schock, the same company behind several beloved performance sailboats, the Santana 28 struck a balance between competitive racing potential and practical coastal cruising ability that appealed to a wide range of sailors. Known for its lively sailing characteristics, the Santana 28 performs well in a variety of wind conditions and is particularly well regarded in the one-design racing community, where active class associations helped maintain competitive fleets for decades. Its responsive handling makes it an enjoyable boat to sail, rewarding attentive sailors who appreciate a hull that communicates with the helm. For those researching a potential purchase, the Santana 28 represents a solid entry into performance-oriented sailing without sacrificing weekend cruising utility. Its enduring popularity means that a healthy used market exists, and owners tend to be passionate about the class. While primarily suited to coastal and bay sailing, the design offers enough capability for longer coastal passages in the right hands.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.29 ft / 8.62 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
Beam 9.20 ft / 2.80 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 7,500.00 lb / 3,402 kg
Ballast 2,550.00 lb / 1,157 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Shad Turner
Builder W. D. Schock Corp.(USA)
First Built 1976
Last Built 1978
Number Built 40
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
180
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
34.0
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
275.19
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. 4.53 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 15.21
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 363.00 ft² / 33.72 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Volvo Penta
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 11 gals / 42 L
Water Capacity 20 gals / 76 L
How It Compares

vs. Cal 28 2 Hunt, Oday 28, Tartan 28

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Santana 28 ★
28.3 ft
Cal 28 2 Hunt
28.3 ft
Oday 28
28.3 ft
Tartan 28
28.3 ft
LWL
Santana 28 ★
23.0 ft
Cal 28 2 Hunt
23.3 ft
Oday 28
22.9 ft
Tartan 28
23.3 ft
Beam
Santana 28 ★
9.2 ft
Cal 28 2 Hunt
10.7 ft
Oday 28
10.3 ft
Tartan 28
9.9 ft
Displacement
Santana 28 ★
7 lbs
Cal 28 2 Hunt
7 lbs
Oday 28
7 lbs
Tartan 28
7 lbs
Ballast
Santana 28 ★
2 lbs
Cal 28 2 Hunt
2 lbs
Oday 28
2 lbs
Tartan 28
3 lbs
Sail Area
Santana 28 ★
Cal 28 2 Hunt
401 sq ft
Oday 28
370 sq ft
Tartan 28
408 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Santana 28 ★
180 s/nm
Cal 28 2 Hunt
Oday 28
203 s/nm
Tartan 28
177 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Santana 28 ★
Cal 28 2 Hunt
17.3
Oday 28
15.8
Tartan 28
17.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Santana 28 ★
34.0 %
Cal 28 2 Hunt
Oday 28
Tartan 28
43.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Santana 28 ★
Cal 28 2 Hunt
19.2
Oday 28
20.7
Tartan 28
22.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Santana 28 ★
Cal 28 2 Hunt
2.21
Oday 28
2.12
Tartan 28
2.03
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Santana 28 ★
275
Cal 28 2 Hunt
Oday 28
Tartan 28
264
Hull Speed
Santana 28 ★
Cal 28 2 Hunt
6.5 kts
Oday 28
6.4 kts
Tartan 28
6.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Santana 28 ★
Cal 28 2 Hunt
2.2
Oday 28
1.9
Tartan 28
2.1
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