About the H28

Alana is a Modernised H28 built by the Walker Boat Company in Geeolong. This page provides additional background information about the H28 design and history.

History of the H28

L. Francis Herreschoff originally designed the H28 in 1942 as a recreational yacht, based on the following design principles:

  • The fact that "most of the owners of H-28's will have to report to the office without fail on a Monday morning, so had best have a motor".
  • "Maximum room for the cost without sacrificing looks and speed."
  • "A shape that should stay entirely tight even if exposed to considerable strain or twisting."
  • "A draft that is deep enough to allow good windward performance in heavy weather but shallow enough to avoid the need to row miles to shore when anchored in a picturesque bay."
Source: New Zealand H28 Yacht Owners' Association

The Walker H28

Herreschoff's original design assumed that the hull would be timber. In the 1980s, the Walker Boat Company in Geelong modernised Herreschoff's original design to take advantage of the relatively new "Glass Reinforced Plastic" aka "Fibreglass" construction methods.

In comparison to other fibreglass H28s, the Walker design boasts a more solid hull layup and improved cockpit drainage to further enhance the yacht's suitability for offshore passage-making. The Walker design is the most popular fibreglass H28 in Australian waters, although although many Compass models may be seen along the coast.

The Walker H28 differs from the original design in the following key areas:

  • Slightly greater draft
  • Raised sheer
  • Tiller attaches to rudder at 90 degrees through a slot in the transom
  • Enlarged cockpit
  • Higher gunwhale moulding to take staunchions

Most Walker H28s carry a ketch rig and bowsprit. (Compass yacths in NZ also produced many fibreglass H28s, mainly carrying sloop rigs).

Measurements of the Walker H28

(Note: Alana is a cutter headed ketch, with removable inner forestay.)

Hull Measurements
LOA 8.84 m   
LWL 7.16 m  
Beam  2.80 m  
Draught  1.27 m   
Displacement  5000 kg  
Ballast  2500 kg  
Headroom  1.88 m   

Sail Measurements (Ketch) 

 sqm Luff  Leach Foot  LP 
Main  16.45 8.85  9.20 3.54 
Mule (fills triangle b/w mainsail and mizzen mast) TBA TBA TBA TBA
Mizzen 7.3 5.90 6.25  2.36 
Mizzen Staysail      TBA TBA TBA TBA
Spinnaker TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
No.1          27.5 10.38  10.03 5.66  5.31 
No.2*        21.1 9.08  9.09 4.82 4.65
No.3*        17.7 8.39  8.09 4.48 4.38
No.4       10.54 7.79  7.08 3.07 2.71
 

Sail Measurements(Cutter headed ketch):

 sqm Luff  Leach Foot  LP 
Yankee   12.4 9.09  6.67 4.24 2.74
Staysail    7.3 6.97 6.36 2.56 2.32
Drifter (No.1) 25.7 9.09 9.39 5.76 5.30

Bowsprit projection past stem head:

 m
Ketch: 0.60  
Cutter headed ketch: 1.06  
Source: H28 Association of Victoria