Contessa 28 Boat for Sale

• Location: Chichester Marina
• Year: 1978
• LOA: 27'11" (8.50m)
• Beam: 9' 5'' (2.87m)
• Berths: 6
• Draft: 1.5
• Keel: Fin keel
• ID no.: 03929

• Cabins: 1
• Heads: 1
• Engine Make: Beta
• Horsepower: 16hp
• Drive Type: Shaft drive
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Fuel Tank Size: 30 Litres
• Cruise Speed: 5 knots approx.
• Top Speed: 6 knots approx.
• Engine Hours Port: 750 approx.

Broker Remarks

CONTESSA 28 - Built Jeremy Rogers, Lymington in 1978. White GRP hull, deck and superstructure, fin keel, tiller steering, Beta 16HP diesel shaft driven inboard engine, approx. 750 engine hours, serviced May 2018, 6 berths in 2 cabins with 6' headroom (2 x doubles, 4 x single berths), Blue/tan upholstery, teak faced ply, New Jabsco 2018 sea toilet in separate toilet compartment, Gas 2 burner cooker with oven/grill, ice box, Sanders 2009 main, No 1 genoa, No 2 genoa, jib and spinnaker, sail cover, plus Banks spinnaker, gas detector, 2018 lifebuoy, lifesling, compass, wind, speed, GPS, plotter, echo sounder, log, VHF, Raymarine ST2000 autopilot, Harken genoa self tailing winches, Lewmar spinnaker and halyard winches, Slab reefing, shore power, clock and barometer, boarding ladder, radio/CD player etc etc.

The genesis of the Contessa 28 came when its designer Doug Peterson was in Lymington overseeing the construction of a number of his boats at Jeremy Rogers Custom division. One evening a group including such luminaries as Jeremy, Doug, Bill Green and Julian Everett went out for dinner repairing later to Jeremy's brother's house for a few more drinks and talk of boats, the conversation turned to a cruiser racer suitable for a small family. While talk continued Doug began sketching at the kitchen table... the sketches evolved into the 28.

The Contessa 28 is a lot of boat for the length with up to six berths available together with an impressive turn of speed a 28 will frequently show a clean pair of heels to larger and more recent designs.  Below innovate design delivers a full size chart table as well as ample galley space - both a rarity in boats of this size.

This 1978 example also benefits from a range of upgrades and enhancements. In a previous ownership it had its mast step and shroud bases rebuilt and reinforced with tie rods that are more than three times factory standard. Additionally the keel floors were reinforced and stiffened.  Meanwhile, on deck the Primary winches were replaced with Harken 40STs and the main sheet traveller replaced with Harken, a two ratio mainsheet was fitted.  Forward a Harken MK4 curler was fitted for the genoas and jibs. The upgrade programme was continued in our ownership during 2017, the installation of a Jabsco w.c. in 2018, fitting of teak effect decking to the cockpit and reupholstering of the saloon seatbacks.

Aloft no sailmaker understands Contessas like Sanders and "Red October" comes with an extensive sail wardrobe from the Lymington loft.

Owner's note: We bought "Red October" when our dinghy racing was curtailed by injury and we decided to give cruising a try. Having spent my University summers working and racing with Jeremy Rogers. I was drawn towards the Contessa margue. Initially I thought of a 26' but then I recalled how much more the 28' has in terms of interior and comfort. My assumptions were confirmed when bringing the boat to Chichester from her former home on the East Coast single handed the boat coped well with a variety of conditions boosting my confidence in her. Since then we have enjoyed a number of short cruises as well as day sails and the boat has never failed to deliver and we have enjoyed our time with her. Indeed, were it not for my long held ambition to own a Contessa 32 (fostered while I built five of them) we would have continued our adventures with "Red October".

Accommodation

6 berths in 1 cabins with 6' headroom
Jabsco (new 2018) sea toilet in separate compartment with washbasin
Blue/tan upholstery, teak faced ply
2 burner gas cooker with oven and grill
Icebox
Sink

Mechanical and Rigging

ENGINE:
Beta 16HP (age unknown, hours approx. 750) fresh water cooled diesel inboard shaft  driven engine
Single Morse lever controls
Last service May 2018
2 blade folding propeller

RIG:
Selden/Proctor aluminium mast and boom
Spinnaker gear/pole
Slab reefing (3 x reefs)
Stainless steel standing rigging replaced 2010
Harken genoa furler.

SAILS:
Main, No 1 genoa 150%, No 2 genoa 135%, 95% jib, little used spinnaker 0.75 oz. All by Sanders in 2009. 
Spinnaker 1.5 oz. by Banks age unknown

WINCHES:
2 x Harken 2 speed self tailing genoa winches
2 x Lewmar single speed spinnaker sheet winch
2 x Lewmar 2 speed self tailing halyard winches

ELECTRICS:
2 x 12v batteries individually switched
Engine alternator
Shore power and cable

TANKAGE:
1 x 30 litre stainless steel fuel tank
1 x 40 litre flexible plastic water tank

WATER SYSTEM:
Manual water

Inventory

Includes:

NAVIGATION:
Compass
Clipper speed and wind 
Garmin GPS 
Raymarine plotter 
Clipper log and echo sounder
VHF
Raymarine ST2000 autopilot.

GENERAL EQUIPMENT:
Gas detector
Fire extinguishers
Lifesling
2018 Lifebuoy
Fire blanket
Manual bilge pump
Navigation lights
Guardwire
Clock and barometer
Misc. scrubbing brushes, buckets and sponges
Boarding ladder
6 x fenders
Warps
Boathook
Radio/CD player
Sail cover
Harken traveller
Teak refitted.