ALERION EXPRESS 28
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 28.25 ft |
| LWL | 22.82 ft |
| Beam | 8.18 ft |
| Draft | 4.5 ft |
| Displacement | 4,400 lb |
| Ballast | 1,999.8 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 6.4 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 30 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 9.75 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 33 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 12.5 ft |
| FLforestay | 9.8 ft |
| Mainsail | 369 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 146.3 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 248.6 sq ft |
About the ALERION EXPRESS 28
The first boats (7) were built by Holby Marine. After 1991 the boats were built by TPI. Later boats have an updated keel w/bulb designed by Garry Hoyt. Specs above are from original builder's documentation from 1991. Current (2012) builder's specs show a displacement of 5,700 lbs and a ballast of 2,200 lbs.
Designed by Carl Schumacher and built by Tillotson Pearson Inc, the Alerion Express 28 is a compact coastal cruiser with 470 hulls built in 1990. Its fractional sloop rig and 4400.0 lb displacement offer a balance of performance and ease of handling for its 28.25 ft LOA.
- Best for:
- This boat suits single-handers and couples seeking a manageable, trailerable coastal cruiser, as evidenced by the high prevalence of bow thruster additions (42 mentions) and solar panel installations (66 mentions) for self-sufficiency.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 2.0 and a D/L ratio of 165.29, the boat is primarily a coastal cruiser rather than a heavy bluewater passagemaker, though its fin keel and 1999.8 lb ballast provide adequate stability for protected offshore passages.
- Comparables:
- It compares to other late-80s/early-90s 28-foot fractional sloops like the Catalina 28 or O'Day 28, sharing similar beam (8.18 ft) and displacement characteristics, though the Express 28 often features more modern rigging components like Harken (174 mentions) and Selden (45 mentions).
Performance
ORC Performance Data(2 certificates)
Measured performance data from ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) certificates.
Polar Diagram
Boat speed (kn) vs. true wind angle. Source: ORC
Racing Ratings
Triple Number
ORC Measured
Sail Areas (ORC)
Speed Table (kn)
| TWA \ TWS | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52° | 3.2 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.2 |
| 60° | 3.4 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 75° | 3.5 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| 90° | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 7.3 |
| 110° | 3.8 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 7.7 | 8.0 |
| 120° | 3.6 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 8.7 |
| 135° | 3.1 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 9.5 |
| 150° | 2.6 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 8.2 |
| Beat VMG | 2.0 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Run VMG | 2.3 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 7.2 |
Estimated Value
Medium ConfidenceAsking price by model year
13 listings · boat years 1992–2016 · median $70,000
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 28.25ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
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Articles & Reviews
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
24 reported issues across 9 systems for the ALERION EXPRESS 28, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a ALERION EXPRESS 28? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 24 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
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