The Tartan 28 Piper is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 23.7′, the Tartan 28 Piper tops out around 6.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √23.7′ 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.
SA / Displacement
18.1
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
36.5%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
212
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
16.2
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.36
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
920lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
16.2
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.36
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Tartan 28 Piper sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Laser 28
135s/nm
Alerion Express 28
168s/nm
Tartan 28
177s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.2 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.6 |
5.9 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.7 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
| Run150–180° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.5 kts),
SA/D (18.1), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Tartan 28 Piper — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Tartan 28 Piper.
|
Tartan 28 Piper |
Alerion Express 28 |
Cal 28 2 Hunt |
First 285 Beneteau |
Laser 28 |
Tartan 28 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
28.3 |
28.3 |
28.3 |
28.2 |
28.4 |
28.3 |
| LWL |
23.7 |
22.8 |
23.3 |
24.3 |
23.6 |
23.3 |
| Beam |
10.9 |
8.2 |
10.7 |
9.8 |
9.5 |
9.9 |
| Displacement |
6 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
| Ballast |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
385 |
352 |
401 |
341 |
365 |
408 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
168 |
— |
— |
135 |
177 |
| SA/Disp |
18.1 |
21.0 |
17.3 |
16.3 |
23.4 |
17.2 |
| Bal/Disp |
36.5 |
45.5 |
39.2 |
34.3 |
— |
43.0 |
| Comfort |
16.2 |
16.9 |
19.2 |
17.8 |
12.2 |
22.0 |
| Capsize |
2.36 |
2.00 |
2.21 |
2.15 |
2.40 |
2.03 |
| Hull Speed |
6.5 |
6.4 |
6.5 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
6.5 |