Hunter 28

Description

The Hunter 28 (1989–1994) is an American fractional-rig coastal cruiser designed by the Hunter Design Team and built by Hunter Marine, with roughly 500 hulls produced as a modern successor to the Hunter 28.5. At 28 feet LOA (29 feet 6 inches with the sugar-scoop transom) and a very beamy 10-foot 6-inch hull, it has a moderate displacement of 7,400 lbs (3,100 lbs ballast) and was offered with either a shoal-draft winged keel (3 ft 10 in) or a deeper fin (5 ft 2 in). It introduced Hunter’s B&R backstay-less rig with sharply swept spreaders, a large roachy fully battened mainsail (~210 sq ft), and a 110–135% roller-furling genoa for about 420–440 sq ft upwind, plus an optional asymmetrical spinnaker on a short sprit—delivering surprisingly lively performance (PHRF typically 180–195) and easy short-handed sailing. Stand-out features include wheel steering, a huge T-shaped cockpit with walk-through transom and swim platform, and one of the most open, family-friendly interiors in its class: enormous aft cabin with an athwartships double berth (almost king-size), private forward V-berth, full galley with two-burner stove and large icebox, enclosed head with shower, nav station, and a convertible dinette—comfortably sleeping six with over 6 feet of headroom and excellent light and ventilation. Quick to rig, forgiving in a breeze, and genuinely comfortable for week-long cruising, the Hunter 28 remains a popular and undervalued 1990s coastal cruiser on both coasts and the Great Lakes, with active owner groups still organizing rendezvous and races today.