Thom D’Arcy sailing around the world in his Vancouver 28. Photo credit: YachtFathom.co.uk
A small sailboat can take you big places
Many sailors will tell you that small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW. They’re affordable, simple, and seaworthy…however, you’re unlikely to see many small sailboats in today’s cruising grounds. In three years of full-time bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30 ft sailboats I met on one hand (all of which were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s). Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50 and 60 ft plus boats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. So long as you you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can have big dreams on a small budget.
Here are our 5 favorite small sailboats for sailing around the world
Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018
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Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)
Matt Rutherford’s Albin Vega 27. Photo credit: www.solotheamericas.org
The Albin Vega has earned a good bluewater reputation through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in documentary Red Dot on the Ocean).
- Hull Type:Long fin keel
- Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
- Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
- Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
- Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
- Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
- Rig Type:Masthead sloop
- Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
- Designer:Per Brohall
- Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
- Year First Built:1965
- Year Last Built:1979
- Number Built:3,450
The 5 best places to find small sailboats for sale.
Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD)
Cape Dory 28
This small sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.
- Hull Type:Long Keel
- Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
- Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
- Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
- Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
- Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
- Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
- Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
- Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
- Displacement/Length Ratio:49
- Designer:Carl Alberg
- Builder:Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
- Year First Built:1974
- Year Last Built:1988
- Number Built: 388
Dufour 29 ($7-23K)
Dufour 29
As small sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for its buck. Roomy and adventure-ready, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the french to think of everything!
- Hull Type:Fin with skeg-hung rudder
- Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
- Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
- Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
- Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
- Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
- Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
- Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
- Designer:Michael Dufour
- Builder:Dufour (France)
- Year First Built:1975
- Year Last Built:1984
Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)
Vancouver 28. Photo credit: YachtFathom.co.uk
A sensible small sailboat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind.
- Hull Type:Long keel with transom hung rudder
- Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
- Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
- Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
- Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
- Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
- Rig Type:Cutter
- Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
- Designer:Robert B Harris
- Builder:Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
- Year First Built:1986
- Last Year Built: 2007
- Number Built: 67
Westsail 28 ($30-35K)
Westsail 28
Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life.
- Hull Type:Long keel with transom hung rudder
- Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
- Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
- Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
- Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
- Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
- Rig Type:Cutter
- Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
- Designer:Herb David
- Builder:Westsail Corp. (USA)
- Year First Built:1975
- Year Last Built:1979
- Number Built:78
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This is a helpful list, thank you. I don’t think most people would consider a 28′ boat a pocket cruiser, though!
Very useful list, but incomplete – as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.
In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly “Centaur” and its follow-on model, the “Griffon”. 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.
OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they’re built like tanks, and it’s rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.