Westsail 28
Built 1975–1979 by Westsail Corp.
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About the Westsail 28
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1975–1979
- Builder
- Westsail Corp.
- Designer
- Herb David
- Length
- 28.25 ft
- Waterline
- 23.5 ft
- Beam
- 9.58 ft
- Draft
- 4.33 ft
- Displacement
- 13,500 lb
- Ballast
- 4,200 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- cutter
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 37 gal
- Water
- 77 gal
- Number built
- 78
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 37 gal
“37 gallon fuel tank, installed” — owners' association (1975-1979), westsail.org · “136 L (36 US gal)” — search excerpt, sailcentral.comThe Westsail Owners Association's W28 history page lists the factory kit contents, including an installed 37-gal fuel tank; our earlier 36 (a spec database's 136 L) looks like a rounding of the same tank. One refit report mentions a 36-gal replacement.
-
Water 77 gal
“77 gallon water tank, installed” — owners' association (1975-1979), westsail.org · “299 L (79 US gal)” — search excerpt, sailcentral.comThe owners' association kit list says 77 gal against a spec database's 79. Owners report the original aluminum tank at about 75 gal; some boats now have replacement tanks (e.g. two stainless tanks totalling 70).
-
Water heater unknown
The Westsail Owners Association history page says the sail-away price excluded sails, winches, a second battery, holding tank, pressure water and more, all available as options; a water heater isn't mentioned.
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
The Westsail Owners Association's Westsail 28 history page (kit packages and prices) doesn't mention thrusters or steering.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Steering tiller
“I have had a number of owners ask about excessive pressure needed on the tiller to steer a Westsail 32 or 28.” — builder, westsail.comWestsail Parts Co., which holds the original Westsail drawings, refers to tiller steering on the 28 and 32; no wheel option was seen for the 28.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Solid glass hull with plywood-cored sandwich deck; transom-hung rudder. Ballast and sail area increased after the first few boats and the rudder was later enlarged. Also sold as kits.
Engines fitted
-
Volvo Penta MD11 series (MD11HD) — 13 hp, diesel, single
standard
Sailboatdata lists the MD11HD at 13 hp as original equipment; another guide says many original 28s had Volvo MD11-series diesels. Kit-built boats may differ.Sources: sailboatdata.com · listingsport.com
-
Westerbeke model not stated — diesel, single
common repower
Many boats repowered because Volvo MD11 parts are hard to find.Sources: listingsport.com
-
Yanmar model not stated — diesel, single
common repower
Many boats repowered because Volvo MD11 parts are hard to find.Sources: listingsport.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No generator mentioned.
Manuals and brochures online
- Price list Westsail 28 history page quoting the Westsail kit packages, contents and prices (1975-1979) — westsail.org
- Document Westsail Parts Co. service manual sheet J08: excessive tiller load, sail trim and balance (Westsail 32 and 28) — westsail.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
No well-sourced problem reports found yet.
Engines & parts
Volvo Penta D1 / D2 series (D1-13 to D2-75) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Volvo Penta MD11 series (MD11HD)”
Current-generation small Volvo diesels (Perkins-derived per owners). Glow plugs, injectors and filters can be bought cheaper via Perkins and aftermarket sources; stainless replacement exhaust elbows are sold aftermarket.
Parts sources: MarineDustrie, AB Marine Service (exhaust elbow)
Common problems (3)
-
Exhaust elbow / manifold corrosion exhaust
The cast elbow rots and has a narrow water passage, which lets water back into the manifold and corrode it through where the two meet; an aftermarket stainless elbow is the usual fix.sailnet.com · myhanse.com
-
Fuel pump controller failure fuel
Contamination or failure of the fuel pump controller is listed as one of the most common D1 faults.marinedustrie.com
-
Overheating from corroded heat exchanger/manifold cooling
Corrosion holes in the combined heat exchanger/manifold cause overheating on D1 and D2 engines.myhanse.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (16)
| Engine oil & filter change D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “After that they should be changed every 500 operating hours or at least once a year.” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Check idling speed D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Clean the vacuum (siphon-break) valve D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Transmission fluid change D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Lubricate the propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Check S-drive / reverse-gear corrosion protection (anodes) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Injector test / service D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Check S-drive rubber seal (hull/drive); clean folding propeller D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 1 yr | “Least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Replace propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations, workshop) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 5 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least every fifth year” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Replace S-drive rubber seal between drive and hull (workshop) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 7 yrs | “Every seventh year” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
Service part numbers (5)
| Oil filter D1-30, D2-40, D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75 |
Volvo Penta 3840525 | “p.90 "D1-30, D2-40" block: Oil filter — 3840525” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta D2-40 … [OIL FILTER] Part Number: 3840525” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Fuel filter | Volvo Penta 861477 | “p.90 "D1-13, D1-20" block: Fuel filter — 861477” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta D1-30 … [FUEL FILTER] Part Number: 861477” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Raw-water impeller D1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40 |
Volvo Penta 22222936 | “p.90 "D1-13, D1-20" block: Impeller kit — 22222936” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “IMPELLER KIT … D2-40,D2-40B,D2-40F,D1-30,D1-30B,D1-30F,… D1-13,D1-13B,D1-13F,D1-20” — dealer, volvopentaparts.shop |
| Raw-water impeller D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75 |
Volvo Penta 21951346 Replaces 3862281, 3855546, 3856039 |
“p.90 "D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75" block: Impeller kit — 21951346” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “Volvo Penta: 21951346, 3862281, 3855546, 3856039 / … D2-55, D2-75” — dealer, repowermarine.com |
| Thermostat D1-13 to D2-75 |
Volvo Penta 3842015 | “# Volvo Penta D1-30 … [THERMOSTAT] Part Number: 3842015” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com · “Genuine Volvo Penta Thermostat 3842015 D1-13, D1-20, D1-30 D2-40, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75” — dealer, repowermarine.com |
| Drive belt D1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40 (alternator / coolant-pump multi-rib belt) |
Sources disagree: 21951188 / 21951188 / 21314684 | “Part Number: 21951188 … Supersedes: 3812159 … D1-13 (B and F variants) … D2-40” — dealer, marisolmarine.com · “Volvo Penta 21951188 Alternator belt D1-30 D1-30F D1-30B D2-40 D2-40B D2-40F” — dealer, dedieseldokter.nl |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (4)
sailboatdata.com · listingsport.com · westsail.org · westsail.com
Other Westsail models
- Westsail 32 1971–1981
- Westsail 42 / 43 1974–?
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.