Newport 28 / 28 II
Built 1974–1987 by Capital Yachts
About the Newport 28 / 28 II
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1974–1987
- Builder
- Capital Yachts
- Designer
- C&C Design
- Length
- 27.74 ft
- Waterline
- 25 ft
- Beam
- 9.5 ft
- Draft
- 4.5 ft
- Displacement
- 7,000 lb
- Ballast
- 3,200 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 20 gal
- Stern thruster
- none
- Steering
- tiller
Nearly 1,000 built across both versions. The original has a swept scimitar keel and rudder (4.5 ft draft); the 28 II (from 1982) has a higher-aspect fin of 5 ft 2 in and a spade rudder, with a 4 ft shoal keel optional. Specs shown are the original 28; sailboatdata lists it 1974-81 and the 28-2 from 1982. Most early boats have the Atomic 4 gas engine; later boats had Universal or Yanmar diesels. Deck is balsa-cored. Water tank size not found. Good Old Boat describes the hull as solid glass. Build count given only as approximate: "almost 1,000" (Practical Sailor), "nearly 1,000" (Good Old Boat), "more than 1000" including the 28-2 (sailboatdata).
Known problems for this model
-
Leaking hull-to-deck joint deck
The deck sits on an inward hull flange, bonded and through-bolted through an aluminum toerail; low freeboard puts the rail in the water often, and owners report leaks here.goodoldboat.com · practical-sailor.com
-
Balsa-cored deck and weak hardware backing deck
The deck is balsa-cored and deck hardware often lacks proper backing plates, so check for wet core and delamination around fittings.goodoldboat.com · practical-sailor.com
-
Light bulkhead tabbing and gelcoat cracks hull
Bulkhead tabbing was sometimes skimpy, letting the hull twist and crack gelcoat, especially at deck transitions. Practical Sailor also reports one new hull that had been cracked at demolding and patched with body filler.goodoldboat.com · practical-sailor.com
-
Plastic through-hull valves plumbing
Owners cite plastic through-hull fittings/valves, which should be replaced with proper bronze or composite seacocks.goodoldboat.com · practical-sailor.com
-
Undersized cockpit drains deck
Cockpit scuppers are small for the cockpit; some owners have enlarged them.goodoldboat.com · practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Universal Atomic 4”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (4)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · goodoldboat.com · sailingmagazine.net
Other Newport models
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.