Back to Search
Sun 28
Designer: Robert Perry  ·  Builder: Spencer  ·  First built: 1977
+ Add to Compare
About the Sun 28

Designed by renowned naval architect Robert Perry in 1977, this Spencer-built 28-footer represents classic Pacific Northwest sailing sensibilities wrapped in a practical cruising package. Perry's signature styling is evident in the Sun 28's balanced proportions and seaworthy hull form, featuring a fin keel with spade rudder configuration that delivers responsive handling both in light air and heavier conditions. The boat's moderate displacement of 6,000 pounds, combined with 2,300 pounds of ballast, creates a stable platform well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. Her 20.57 comfort ratio suggests a motion that favors performance over ultimate stability, making her an engaging boat to sail while remaining forgiving enough for less experienced crews. The masthead sloop rig with 339 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for her size class. With a respectable capsize screening formula of 1.98, the Sun 28 demonstrates good stability characteristics for protected waters and near-coastal sailing. Her fiberglass construction has proven durable over the decades, and many examples remain active on the water today. This design appeals to sailors seeking a manageable boat that doesn't sacrifice sailing performance for comfort, making it particularly attractive for couples or small families wanting to explore coastal waters with confidence.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Beam 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 6,000.00 lb / 2,722 kg
Ballast 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 339.00 ft² / 31.49 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Robert Perry
Builder Spencer
First Built 1977
Related Sailboats Crown 28 · Com Pac 25 · Pearson 26 · Hunter 28 · Ericson 28
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
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
16.48
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
38.33
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
235.16
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
20.57
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
1.98
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. 6.36 kn
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. 723.55 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Com Pac 25, Crown 28, Ericson 28, Hunter 28, Pearson 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sun 28 ★
28.0 ft
Com Pac 25
28.2 ft
Crown 28
27.8 ft
Ericson 28
28.5 ft
Hunter 28
28.0 ft
Pearson 26
26.1 ft
LWL
Sun 28 ★
22.5 ft
Com Pac 25
21.0 ft
Crown 28
23.3 ft
Ericson 28
24.2 ft
Hunter 28
24.2 ft
Pearson 26
21.7 ft
Beam
Sun 28 ★
9.0 ft
Com Pac 25
8.5 ft
Crown 28
8.8 ft
Ericson 28
10.5 ft
Hunter 28
10.5 ft
Pearson 26
8.7 ft
Displacement
Sun 28 ★
6 lbs
Com Pac 25
4 lbs
Crown 28
6 lbs
Ericson 28
7 lbs
Hunter 28
7 lbs
Pearson 26
5 lbs
Ballast
Sun 28 ★
2 lbs
Com Pac 25
1 lbs
Crown 28
2 lbs
Ericson 28
3 lbs
Hunter 28
2 lbs
Pearson 26
2 lbs
Sail Area
Sun 28 ★
339 sq ft
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
422 sq ft
Hunter 28
398 sq ft
Pearson 26
321 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sun 28 ★
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
180 s/nm
Hunter 28
183 s/nm
Pearson 26
213 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sun 28 ★
16.5
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
17.7
Hunter 28
16.8
Pearson 26
16.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sun 28 ★
38.3 %
Com Pac 25
39.6 %
Crown 28
43.3 %
Ericson 28
40.0 %
Hunter 28
37.8 %
Pearson 26
40.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sun 28 ★
20.6
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
19.9
Hunter 28
19.7
Pearson 26
20.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sun 28 ★
1.98
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
2.15
Hunter 28
2.16
Pearson 26
1.98
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sun 28 ★
235
Com Pac 25
231
Crown 28
235
Ericson 28
237
Hunter 28
233
Pearson 26
236
Hull Speed
Sun 28 ★
6.4 kts
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
6.6 kts
Hunter 28
6.6 kts
Pearson 26
6.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sun 28 ★
Com Pac 25
Crown 28
Ericson 28
2.3
Hunter 28
2.3
Pearson 26
2.3
Find a Sun 28 For Sale