The Great Dane 28
 Sailboat

Published Specification for the Great Dane 28

Keel & Rudder Configuration: Long keel with a transom‑hung rudder 

Hull Material: Fiberglass construction with wood trim details.

• Length Overall (LOA): 28'0" (approximately 8.53m)*
• Waterline Length (LWL): Approximately 23'0" (around 7.01m)*
• Beam: Roughly 9'6" (about 2.90m)*
• Draft: Approximately 3'9" (roughly 1.16m)* 
• Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig.
• Displacement: Roughly 7,000 lbs (around 3,175kg)*
• Ballast: Approximately 2,500 lbs (roughly 1,134kg)*
• Sail Area: About 330ft² (approximately 30.7m²)*
• Water Tank Capacity: Approximately 30 US gallons (roughly 114 litres)
• Fuel Tank Capacity: Around 20 US gallons (nearly 76 litres)
• Hull Speed: Estimated at approximately 6.4 knots 
• Designer: Not definitively verified; available evidence suggests the design was managed in-house by Great Dane Yachts rather than credited to a widely recognized individual designer.
• Builder: Great Dane Yachts Ltd.
• Year First Built: Approximately 1976
• Year Last Built: Around 1982
• Number Built: An estimated production run of about 45 units

* Used to derive the design ratios referred to later in this article - here's how they're calculated...

Sail Areas & Rig Dimensions

Sail Areas & Rig Dimensions

Great Dane 28 Sail Area

• Sail Area: About 330ft² (approximately 30.7m²)

Great Dane 28 Rig Dimensions

• I (Foretriangle Height): 32'0" (approximately 9.75 m)
• J (Foretriangle Base): 10'5" (approximately 3.20 m)
• P (Mainsail Luff Length): 27'0" (approximately 8.23 m)
• E (Mainsail Foot Length): 12'0" (approximately 3.66 m)

Published Design Ratios
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

1. Displacement–Length Ratio (D/L ≈ 257)

What It Means:

• A D/L ratio around 257 suggests that the Great Dane 28 is moderately heavy relative to its waterline length. In cruising yachts, ratios in the 200–300 range typically indicate a boat built for comfort and stability rather than quick acceleration or rapid maneuvering.

Theoretical Implications:

• Comfortable Motion: A higher displacement relative to length generally translates to a smoother ride in chop and more momentum through waves.

• Steady Performance: The design is less likely to pound in rough seas, offering a more forgiving and predictable motion under sail.

2. Sail Area–Displacement Ratio (SA/D ≈ 14.4)

What It Means:

• An SA/D ratio of about 14.4 shows that the boat carries a moderate amount of sail area relative to its overall displacement.

Theoretical Implications:

• Balanced Power: The boat is neither heavily canvas-laden (which would favor light air performance) nor under-canvassed (which could lead to sluggish acceleration).

• Cruising Efficiency: This balance is typical of cruisers—it can perform well in a range of wind strengths but is optimized for steady, manageable speeds rather than the rapid acceleration of a performance racer.

• Ease of Handling: With moderate sail power, the boat is likely easier to depower in strong winds, contributing to safer and more relaxed cruising.

3. Ballast Ratio (≈ 36%)

What It Means:

• A ballast ratio of around 36% means that about one‑third of the boat’s weight is devoted to ballast. This is common for many classic cruising designs where the goal is to secure sufficient stiffness (resistance to heeling) without overly compromising interior volume or weight.

Theoretical Implications:

• Stability: The ballast provides the necessary righting moment to counteract wind forces, thus ensuring the boat remains stable when heeled over.

• Safety: This ratio indicates a design that can handle moderate to strong winds without excessive heeling, making it a reliable cruiser.

• Handling Characteristics: Coupled with a long keel, the design emphasizes steady, predictable tracking over agile maneuverability—reflecting a focus on comfort and ease of cruising rather than quick tactical turns.

4. Capsize Screening Ratio (≈ 1.98)

What It Means:

• The capsize screening ratio, calculated from the beam and displacement, indicates the boat’s susceptibility to capsize. A value below 2.0 is generally seen as acceptable for cruising yachts.

Theoretical Implications:

• Safety Margin: With a capsize ratio of about 1.98, the Great Dane 28 is considered to have a reasonable safety margin against capsizing, especially when compared to more aggressively designed boats.

• Design Orientation: This figure reinforces the notion that the vessel is built more for steady, offshore or coastal cruising rather than for high-speed, extreme performance where lower ratios are common.

• Predictable Behavior: In rougher conditions, the combination of a moderate capsize ratio and a long keel helps the boat maintain a predictable attitude, reducing sudden or unexpected motions.

Overall Theoretical Sailing Characteristics

Based on these design ratios, the Great Dane 28 can be characterized as follows:

• Stable and Comfortable: The moderate D/L and capsize ratios indicate a vessel designed for a smooth, comfortable ride with a high degree of directional stability—traits very desirable in a cruising sailboat.

• Balanced Performance: The SA/D ratio suggests that while the boat isn’t optimized for speed, it carries enough sail to perform adequately in a variety of wind conditions without becoming overpowered. This balance makes the vessel forgiving in both light and moderate winds.

• Secure and Predictable: A ballast ratio of about 36% combined with a long keel layout ensures that the boat maintains good stability and remains easy to control, even when the wind picks up. This results in a predictable handling characteristic that is especially reassuring for long passages or for less experienced crews.

• Cruising Focus: Overall, these ratios paint the picture of a classic, well-balanced cruiser built to offer comfort, safety, and steady performance rather than outright speed or racing agility. It’s a design that prioritizes long-term livability and ease of handling over quick turns or rapid acceleration.

But the Design Ratios are Not the Whole Story...

Although the design ratios can be interpreted to provide an indication of such a vessel's likely sailing characteristics they do however, have their limitations:

• The design ratios are static measurements which don't account for dynamic factors like wave action, wind gusts, or crew actions.

• They simplify complex interactions into single numbers, which can be misleading. Real-world performance is influenced by a multitude of factors that these ratios can't fully capture.

• The context in which the boat is intended to be used (e.g., coastal cruising vs. offshore racing) can greatly affect how these ratios should be interpreted.

Consequently, while these ratios provide valuable insights into the theoretical performance characteristics of a sailboat, they should be used as part of a broader assessment that includes practical experience, sea trials, and expert advice.

More Specs & Key Performance Indicators for Popular Cruising Boats

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