mirage 28

[ghostlymoron]

I'm considering buying a mirage 28. Have other owners got any comments - good or bad features?
Cheers,
GM

 

[tangomoon]

Designed by david Feltham. Haven't got one but they're a nice fast boat, chart table lousy and I would have bought one but didn't know about them

 

[moondancer]

Not sure about the fast bit. 1 races on the Crouch sometimes and is not very sprightly, looks similar to a Centaur.

 

[tangomoon]

The one I have watched thrashes the Centaurs and others, but, new sails and RNSA maintained before he bought it - A thought! Some people are v dab at looking as if they're sailing but have the engine helping matters - you may be right. Previous poster beware on the speed but still think they're a good buy - Westerly Griffon are nippy and comfortable but £18Kish

 

[aldeburgh]

We owned one for 3 years when the children were smaller and cruised all over in cluding 2 crossings to Flushing and back.Good accommodation hob and grill only a oven would of been nice,some owners managed to fit one.
We had a 2gm yanmar.Ours was a bilge keeler and sailed fine but didn,t like force 6 or more but then who does.

 

[Elessar]

Not an owner but I sailed loads in a bilge keeler a while ago. Solidly built and confidence inspiring, when I moved onto french boats they seemed flimsy (but more spacious). When I started sailing a sigma 36 I realised the mirage is definately a cruiser not a racer (well the bilge keel anyway, and the one I sailed had a big, fixed prop) I look at mirage 28s now, I think you can get a fantastic lot of safe family cruising fun for the money out of one. The Mk 1s were 5 berth and the Mk 2s extended the starboard settee to give a 6th - pretty pointless as they aren't big enough for that, they make a good 2+2kids for a holiday or an overnight 4. A lot were home finished I think and they are getting on now so condition is everything. I still think they look nice too.

 

[AOWYN]

Our 1979 Mark 2 twin keel took us to the Azores and Back twice (AZAB 79 and 83). As commented elsewhere a cruiser not a racer, but solidly built and survived many years of a hard sand drying mooring without any keel problems. I look back on her fondly. Like most "family" boats their sailing reputation seems to be more influenced by the non-competitive nature of their crews than the underlying capabilities of the boat. Thames Marine, the builders, used to compete "Mirage of Thames" on the east coast and do rather well, but then they were trying and they kitted the boat with good sails, a keen crew and did not carry a week-end cottage-load of kit with them.

Can anybody remember the name of the Thames Marine chap who raced their boat?
Good luck.

 

[MoodySabre]

[ QUOTE ]
Can anybody remember the name of the Thames Marine chap who raced their boat?

[/ QUOTE ]

There's an ex-Thames Marine guy who lives near me called Ray but don't know his surname.

 

[mapron]

I looked at the Mirage 28 but then decided on the Mirage 2700 ( a later model but about the same price) No regrets. A well designed and well built boat. Sails well and no problem with bilge keels. Might be worth looking at before you decide. Allan

 

[ghostlymoron]

what did you get instead?
GM

 

[Manos_Greece]

I own a 1977 example. I agree about the comment regarding how solidly they are built. MK 1s have shorter mast than later models and so you can't tell exactly that are fast or that they point against the wind as newer boats... The accomodation is generaly good for the size as their seakeeping ability. Clearly boats of IOR era they must be looked after under spinaker in order not to broach in heavy seas. I'm quite happy with mine and not plan to change it soon. Reasons? Bigger boats need more crew so it is perfect for my family (I usually sail it alone while my wife takes care of our child), you feel secure with it's tall sides (freeboard?) and heavy built construction.