28' Newport mkII VERSA Islander 28'

[Yoji]

Since I can't afford my top preference (Islander Freeport 36') I'm considering a 28' boat. I'm offered a '86 Newport 28' for $15K. The boat is nice with all the electronics with a lot of very nice teak but...needs new paint and probably a new/rebuilt engine and sails. I wonder how much all this may cost me

About the Islander 28', I still have to find one newer then 1975 .

The I28 was discontinued in 1984 (I think) while the Newports are still made.

I read somewhere that the Newport has a leaking problem thru the connection between the hull and the deck(!?!?!?). Is this a known problem??

Thanks for your opinions

Yoji

[BarryL]

Hello Yoji,

I owned a 1986 Newport 28 from 2004 to 2007. I enjoyed the boat very much. I can't comment on Islander boats, so I can't help you there.

A few things for you to know:
Capital Yachts, the maker of Newport, Gulf, and Neptune yachts, went out of business in the early 90's.
There are no design problems in the Newport 28 hull to deck joint. That doesn't mean that any particular boat is OK, just that the design and manufacture of the hull / deck joint is in line with other boat builders.

As a data point for you, I sold my boat for $14K. It had a brand new sails (1 year old UK dacron main, 1 year old UK tape drive laminate roller furling 140 genoa), good diesel engine, and was in good condition. It had a good autopilot, Lowrance GPS / SONAR, and a number of other things including cruising spinnaker in dousing sock.

I enjoyed the Newport. It was a little tender, but sailed well. Compared to other boats, like Catalina and O'day, the interior was nicer, with more teak, and nicer cabinetry. The boat came standard with self tailing winches, nice traveler, and lines led aft.

Bad things were the location of the ice box thru hull, leaks around the chainplates (common to many boats), and small head (what do you expect on a 28').

You can learn more about Newport boats here:
Newport, Neptune, Gulf sailboats built by Capital Yachts

Good luck,
Barry

[chef2sail]

My first boat was an Islander 28. It was well a made West Coast boat. It had oversized equipement and was best in medium to heavier winds. Lots of them on SF Bay area. She (Island Majic) was a fairly shoal keel with good weight and interior joinery and mahogany of the quality of the older Tartans. The trick to her was to reef the headsail befiore the main to maintain balance once the winds were 20 or so. Small head....good atomic 4 which can easily be replaced by a universal diesel which I did. Great small cruiser which was not at all slow. She turned many a head as there were not a lot made. robert Perry design. The quality of the Islander compared to a newport is like comparing a Tartan to a Hunter. Always wanted the Islander 36...till I saw the 35 C&C I have now. Different type boats aimed at different markets. Newport 28 was a light air boat.

Dave

[serenity4u2]

The islander is a great boat... I would not even compare it to a newport.. That would be like comparing a hunter and a C&C to a Caliber or a Tartan. Obviously the hunter and C&C have thier markets- niether are are a tartan, caliber and certainly not a islander... The newpoprters, Hunters and C&C's have there place...

[erps]

We had an Islander 28 and liked it very much. We had quite a bit of crazing in the deck gel coat though and we had some warping of the floor under the head door to due not enough support under the compression post. I beefed up the support under the compression post but never did deal with the deck gel coat problem.

[Yoji]

Originally Posted by serenity4u2

The islander is a great boat... I would not even compare it to a newport.. That would be like comparing a hunter and a C&C to a Caliber or a Tartan. Obviously the hunter and C&C have thier markets- niether are are a tartan, caliber and certainly not a islander... The newpoprters, Hunters and C&C's have there place...

First, thanks for all the responds so far.
Unfortunately I can't afford a $50K+ boat and $600 slip / insurance monthly expenses.

[KeelHaulin]

Originally Posted by serenity4u2

The islander is a great boat... I would not even compare it to a newport.. That would be like comparing a hunter and a C&C to a Caliber or a Tartan. Obviously the hunter and C&C have thier markets- niether are are a tartan, caliber and certainly not a islander... The newpoprters, Hunters and C&C's have there place...

I don't think you can compare either a Newport or a C&C's build quality to a Hunter. Sorry; but the Newports and C&C's of that era were built way better from a structural standpoint than the newer Hunters. I think the Islander line was roughly equivalent in build quality to the same era of C&C, Newport or Tartan; based on some of the boats I've seen.

The Newport 28 and 41 were C&C designed; while the 30/33 was designed to fit in-between by Gary Mull. The 30/33 were built a bit lighter (for racing performance) and updated in terms of hull form than the earlier designed 28 and 41. The 30 and 33 are closer to the popular Ranger series of hull designs by Mull. I think all of the Newport hulls were well built; they have stood up well to the tests of time. I can't comment directly between interior design/appointments of the N-28 vs. the I-28 but I would consider them to both be somewhere in the same realm as they are both coastal/inshore boats.

[monteh]

I had an '83 Newport 28'. The hull to deck leaked big time on mine. And the way the boat is designed, it's pretty easy to drop that toe rail in the water. I had the windows under water at one point. They didn't leak though.

[Yoji]

Originally Posted by Yoji

The boat is nice with all the electronics with a lot of very nice teak but...needs new paint and probably a new/rebuilt engine and sails. I wonder how much all this may cost me

Thanks for your opinions

Yoji

Thanks again, but I would like some specific info, please?.

How much will cost me.....(more or less)

Rebuilding a 2 cyl. Universal engine + labor.

Paintig the bottom; basic job or the worst case scenario (Is it true that the procedure takes a few months?!?! even in southern California?!?!?.

Yoji

[sailhagg]

Humm...we have a Newport 30 and had the bottom painted about a year ago. We spent about $900 with haul out paint and re-splash. In our area this will run us about 3 years. For what it's worth...love our Newport.

P.S. We've done lots to our engine but then it did work sort of.... we've found a good book, a good yacht club and lots of questions goes a long ways