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Shannon 28
Designer: Walter Shultz  ·  Builder: Shannon Boat Company  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Shannon 28

Built for sailors who appreciate traditional craftsmanship and seaworthy design, this compact cruiser represents Shannon Yachts' commitment to quality construction and classic sailing characteristics. The Shannon 28 embodies the builder's philosophy of creating robust, well-built vessels that prioritize safety and comfort over pure speed. Shannon Yachts has earned a reputation for producing boats with exceptional build quality, often incorporating heavy layup schedules and premium materials that result in strong, durable hulls. This approach makes their vessels particularly well-suited for coastal cruising and extended passages where reliability matters most. The design typically features traditional aesthetics with practical layouts that maximize the available space efficiently. Sailors drawn to the Shannon 28 often value the brand's attention to detail and conservative design approach. These boats tend to be forgiving and stable platforms, making them excellent choices for couples or small families seeking a trustworthy cruising companion. While not designed as a racing machine, the Shannon 28 offers the kind of solid, predictable sailing characteristics that inspire confidence in varying conditions, from weekend coastal hops to longer offshore adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.92 ft / 6.99 m
Beam 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
Max Draft 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement 9,300.00 lb / 4,218 kg
Ballast 3,600.00 lb / 1,633 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 470.00 ft² / 43.66 m²
Headroom 6.17 ft / 1.88 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Walter Shultz
Builder Shannon Boat Company
First Built 1978
Last Built 1985
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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
204
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
17.06
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
29.31
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
1.81
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. 6.42
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
1.38
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. 778.01
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 38.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 32.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.0
SA Fore 285.0
SA Main 160.0
How It Compares

vs. Ericson 28 2, Grampian 28, Pearson 28 1975 80, Ranger 28, Sabre 28 1

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Shannon 28 ★
28.0 ft
Ericson 28 2
28.0 ft
Grampian 28
28.0 ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
28.0 ft
Ranger 28
28.0 ft
Sabre 28 1
28.0 ft
LWL
Shannon 28 ★
22.9 ft
Ericson 28 2
23.3 ft
Grampian 28
24.5 ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
24.0 ft
Ranger 28
21.7 ft
Sabre 28 1
22.8 ft
Beam
Shannon 28 ★
9.5 ft
Ericson 28 2
10.0 ft
Grampian 28
9.5 ft
Pearson 28 1975 80
9.3 ft
Ranger 28
9.6 ft
Sabre 28 1
9.0 ft
Displacement
Shannon 28 ★
9 lbs
Ericson 28 2
7 lbs
Grampian 28
6 lbs
Pearson 28 1975 80
7 lbs
Ranger 28
5 lbs
Sabre 28 1
6 lbs
Ballast
Shannon 28 ★
3 lbs
Ericson 28 2
3 lbs
Grampian 28
3 lbs
Pearson 28 1975 80
3 lbs
Ranger 28
2 lbs
Sabre 28 1
2 lbs
Sail Area
Shannon 28 ★
470 sq ft
Ericson 28 2
411 sq ft
Grampian 28
Pearson 28 1975 80
395 sq ft
Ranger 28
Sabre 28 1
391 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Shannon 28 ★
204 s/nm
Ericson 28 2
Grampian 28
198 s/nm
Pearson 28 1975 80
Ranger 28
185 s/nm
Sabre 28 1
186 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Shannon 28 ★
17.1
Ericson 28 2
17.2
Grampian 28
Pearson 28 1975 80
16.1
Ranger 28
Sabre 28 1
17.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Shannon 28 ★
Ericson 28 2
Grampian 28
44.4 %
Pearson 28 1975 80
45.0 %
Ranger 28
55.0 %
Sabre 28 1
42.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Shannon 28 ★
29.3
Ericson 28 2
21.8
Grampian 28
Pearson 28 1975 80
24.9
Ranger 28
Sabre 28 1
23.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Shannon 28 ★
1.81
Ericson 28 2
2.05
Grampian 28
Pearson 28 1975 80
1.86
Ranger 28
Sabre 28 1
1.89
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Shannon 28 ★
Ericson 28 2
Grampian 28
209
Pearson 28 1975 80
253
Ranger 28
222
Sabre 28 1
258
Hull Speed
Shannon 28 ★
6.4 kts
Ericson 28 2
6.5 kts
Grampian 28
Pearson 28 1975 80
6.6 kts
Ranger 28
Sabre 28 1
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Shannon 28 ★
1.4
Ericson 28 2
2.1
Grampian 28
Pearson 28 1975 80
2.0
Ranger 28
Sabre 28 1
2.1
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