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Sirius 28 Can
Designer: Hubert Van De Stadt  ·  Builder: Vandestadt And Mcgruer Ltd.  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Sirius 28 Can

Designed with practical coastal and inland cruising in mind, the Sirius 28 Can is a compact sailboat that reflects the sensible, no-fuss approach to boating that has made the Sirius brand well regarded among sailors seeking dependable performance without unnecessary complexity. Built for those who want a capable yet manageable vessel, this boat suits weekend cruisers, solo sailors, and small families looking to explore sheltered waters and coastal passages with confidence. The "Can" designation suggests a canoe-stern or specific hull variant within the Sirius 28 lineup, lending the boat a distinctive aesthetic and potentially influencing its handling characteristics and cockpit layout. Sirius boats in general are known for solid construction, thoughtful interior arrangements, and a focus on ease of handling, traits that would carry through to this model. While detailed specifications for the Sirius 28 Can remain limited, prospective buyers can expect the kind of seaworthy, balanced sailboat that rewards careful seamanship. It is best suited to sailors prioritizing comfort and reliability over racing performance, making it a worthy consideration for those entering cruising or downsizing to a more manageable boat.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
Beam 9.67 ft / 2.95 m
Max Draft 4.30 ft / 1.31 m
Displacement 6,700.00 lb / 3,039 kg
Ballast 2,600.00 lb / 1,179 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 379.00 ft² / 35.21 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Hubert Van de stadt
Builder Vandestadt and McGruer Ltd.
First Built 1982
Last Built 1987
Related Sailboats S2 86 · Aloha 28 · Comet 860 · Ericson 28 2 · Spirit 28 Finch
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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
 188
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
 17.12
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
 20.01
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
 2.05
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. 6.56
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
 2.53
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. 829.25
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 35.75
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.16
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.0
SA Fore 199.49
SA Main 180.0
How It Compares

vs. Aloha 28, Comet 860, Ericson 28 2, S2 86, Spirit 28 Finch

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sirius 28 Can ★
28.0 ft
Aloha 28
28.0 ft
Comet 860
28.0 ft
Ericson 28 2
28.0 ft
S2 86
28.0 ft
Spirit 28 Finch
28.0 ft
LWL
Sirius 28 Can ★
24.0 ft
Aloha 28
24.5 ft
Comet 860
22.3 ft
Ericson 28 2
23.3 ft
S2 86
22.5 ft
Spirit 28 Finch
23.0 ft
Beam
Sirius 28 Can ★
9.7 ft
Aloha 28
9.4 ft
Comet 860
9.7 ft
Ericson 28 2
10.0 ft
S2 86
9.5 ft
Spirit 28 Finch
10.0 ft
Displacement
Sirius 28 Can ★
6 lbs
Aloha 28
6 lbs
Comet 860
6 lbs
Ericson 28 2
7 lbs
S2 86
7 lbs
Spirit 28 Finch
6 lbs
Ballast
Sirius 28 Can ★
2 lbs
Aloha 28
3 lbs
Comet 860
2 lbs
Ericson 28 2
3 lbs
S2 86
3 lbs
Spirit 28 Finch
2 lbs
Sail Area
Sirius 28 Can ★
379 sq ft
Aloha 28
373 sq ft
Comet 860
474 sq ft
Ericson 28 2
411 sq ft
S2 86
390 sq ft
Spirit 28 Finch
365 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sirius 28 Can ★
188 s/nm
Aloha 28
195 s/nm
Comet 860
240 s/nm
Ericson 28 2
—
S2 86
—
Spirit 28 Finch
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sirius 28 Can ★
17.1
Aloha 28
16.8
Comet 860
21.6
Ericson 28 2
17.2
S2 86
16.2
Spirit 28 Finch
16.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sirius 28 Can ★
—
Aloha 28
44.4 %
Comet 860
—
Ericson 28 2
—
S2 86
—
Spirit 28 Finch
42.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sirius 28 Can ★
20.0
Aloha 28
20.6
Comet 860
20.7
Ericson 28 2
21.8
S2 86
24.2
Spirit 28 Finch
20.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sirius 28 Can ★
2.05
Aloha 28
2.00
Comet 860
2.07
Ericson 28 2
2.05
S2 86
1.94
Spirit 28 Finch
2.10
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sirius 28 Can ★
—
Aloha 28
204
Comet 860
—
Ericson 28 2
—
S2 86
—
Spirit 28 Finch
253
Hull Speed
Sirius 28 Can ★
6.6 kts
Aloha 28
6.6 kts
Comet 860
6.3 kts
Ericson 28 2
6.5 kts
S2 86
6.4 kts
Spirit 28 Finch
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sirius 28 Can ★
2.5
Aloha 28
2.6
Comet 860
—
Ericson 28 2
2.1
S2 86
1.7
Spirit 28 Finch
2.1
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