Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
6.5 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 23.5′, the Soverel 28 tops out around 6.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √23.5′ LWL = 6.5 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
222s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Ballast / Displacement
18.0%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
241
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Hull Speed
6.5kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
4lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Soverel 28 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Pearson 28 2
Columbia 29
Soverel 28
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Rhodes Ranger 29
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Soverel 28.
| Soverel 28 | Columbia 29 | Columbia 29 Mkii | Pearson 28 2 | Ranger 29 Mull | Rhodes Ranger 29 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 28.5 | 28.5 | 28.5 | 28.5 | 28.6 | 28.5 |
| LWL | 23.5 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 24.4 | 23.0 | 20.0 |
| Beam | 8.3 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 8.0 |
| Displacement | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Ballast | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Sail Area | — | 388 | 387 | 384 | 410 | 328 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | 222 | 218 | — | 192 | — | 239 |
| SA/Disp | — | 16.4 | 15.0 | 16.8 | 18.5 | 13.2 |
| Bal/Disp | 18.0 | 42.2 | 48.8 | 36.4 | — | — |
| Comfort | — | 29.5 | 33.5 | 20.1 | 21.4 | 34.2 |
| Capsize | — | 1.64 | 1.58 | 2.06 | 1.98 | 1.60 |
| Hull Speed | — | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.0 |