Newport 28 / 28 II
Built 1974–1987 by Capital Yachts
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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
- Water
- 25 gal
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 20 gal
“Fuel: 20 gallons” — broker listing (1988 (28 II)), sailingtexas.comOne listing agrees with our earlier figure of 20 gal; no builder figure was found. Early boats had the gasoline Atomic 4 and later ones diesels, so the tank may differ.
-
Water 25 gal
“Fresh water capacity is 25 gallons” — review (28 II), goodoldboat.com · “Water: 25 gallons” — broker listing (1988 (28 II)), sailingtexas.comGood Old Boat review of the 28 II and a 1988 listing agree; not confirmed for the original 28 (1974-81).
-
Holding unknown
“Tankage: 10 gallons” — broker listing (1988 (28 II)), sailingtexas.comFrom one listing, which gives a third tankage figure of 10 gal after water and fuel; we've taken it as the holding tank, but that's uncertain.
-
Water heater unknown
“it also has a hot water heater for more live-aboard comfort” — search excerpt (1975), s3.amazonaws.comOnly one broker listing (a 1975 boat) mentions a hot water heater, with no size given; Practical Sailor's Newport 28/28 II review doesn't mention one.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
No source mentions a thruster on the Newport 28.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none appears to be an assumption.
-
Steering tiller
“Although a tiller is standard, a fair number of boats have been equipped with wheel steering, either as an original opti” — review, practical-sailor.com · “The Newport 28 came standard with tiller steering, although as noted above, wheel steering was a popular option and refi” — search excerpt, sailingmagazine.net · “NEWPORT 27 & 28 (alternate): FIG. 336-5-211T CLASSIC PEDESTAL STEERER ... CHAIN & WIRE ROPE KIT ... PULL/PULL CONDUIT ..” — spec database, edsonmarine.comA tiller was standard (Practical Sailor, Sailing Magazine); wheel steering was an original option and a common retrofit. Edson's data sheet S-725-1 for the Newport 27 & 28 shows an Edson Classic pedestal with chain and wire in pull-pull conduits to a bronze quadrant, with the tiller kept for emergency steering.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
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).
Engines fitted
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — gas, single
standard
Practical Sailor: originally equipped with the Atomic Four gasoline inboard. Wikipedia lists the Atomic 4, a Yanmar or a Universal diesel as factory engines.Sources: practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org
-
Universal diesel, 11-18 hp (Universal 18 among them) — 18 hp, diesel, single
factory option
Practical Sailor: diesel was optional until the 28-II, when it became standard; owners report diesels from 11 to 18 hp, Universal on some boats. Exact Universal models not given.Sources: practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org
-
Yanmar diesel (model not stated) — diesel, single
factory option
Practical Sailor: some boats have Yanmar diesels; Wikipedia lists Yanmar among factory engines.Sources: practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No source mentions a generator for the Newport 28.
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 “Atomic 4 (Universal)”
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
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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
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (7)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · goodoldboat.com · sailingmagazine.net · en.wikipedia.org · sailingtexas.com · edsonmarine.com
Other Newport models
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.