I would like a Swanson 32 under $22000 but may just settle for a Swanson 28. I know that they will be slow boats but I would like some feedback from Swanson 28 owners as to their seaworthiness and handling/balance etc. Just sold my Duncanson 29 and wanting to step up to a beamier boat with a double berth and a bit more space in the cabin. I have always like the look of the Swansons.

hi Rod
re the Swanson 28 if sailed right these yachts preform well, They are no round the buoy racer but are solid and very sea worthy yachts like all Swansons very forgiving . They are different shape to the 32 and wont point as high.

cheers Bj

Never sailed a 28. My Swanson 31 has similar hull/keel profile and very heavy. Nice action in a lumpy sea. Sails and points reasonably well. Sailing against a defiance it's roundly out-pointed and outpaced. Probably not too dissimilar to your Duncanson 29 performance wise if you were happy enough with that. Plenty of room inside. More than appears in photo with the hull tapering away well below the waterline. Cockpit space is very limited due to the canoe stern with steering binnacle and main traveller through middle.

I've never sailed a Swanson 28 but I have pulled one off a sand bank! They have small cockpits and I'm not that keen on the cabin layout. I would prefer a Swanson 32 and there is a very nice one near me owned by a Seabreezer for $17,000. If you want a long keeler then the Swanson 31's or a timber Carmen would be a better choice to sail. I think the 28 was Swanson's idea of a motorsailer. Gumtree has a nice Carmen at the moment. https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kirribilli/sail-boats/swanson-carmen-yacht-31-/1196828957

Swanson28 was built as pocket cruising yacht . All Swansons have small cockpits compared to the modern yachts these days ? Swanson's liked so called small but deep cockpits as this stopped being washed out and thrown around in rough conditions. But times have changed ?

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jbear said..
Swanson28 was built as pocket cruising yacht . All Swansons have small cockpits compared to the modern yachts these days ? Swanson's liked so called small but deep cockpits as this stopped being washed out and thrown around in rough conditions. But times have changed ?

Interested to see several 28s for sale compared to other Swanson yachts, I wonder if there is a reason for this? Also all the 28s advertised have wheel steering, is there such a thing as a 28 with tiller?

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Willen said..

jbear said..
Swanson28 was built as pocket cruising yacht . All Swansons have small cockpits compared to the modern yachts these days ? Swanson's liked so called small but deep cockpits as this stopped being washed out and thrown around in rough conditions. But times have changed ?

Interested to see several 28s for sale compared to other Swanson yachts, I wonder if there is a reason for this? Also all the 28s advertised have wheel steering, is there such a thing as a 28 with tiller?

No room for a tiller.

There are some around with tillers
the plug had tiller steer

The only Swanson's that can't be tiller steer are the 38 and the 42 These still have a head on the rudder stock to take an emergency tiller Swanson's only liked tiller steer for the direct feel and simplicity Most wheel steer Swanson's have the rudder stock coming up behind or in the cockpit with the head fitted for that emergency situation when the wheel steer fails

The S28 on the market currently with a dead transmission, has tiller steering. It is a good buy at 7k.