Windy Boats SR28 CC

Brief Summary

The Windy SR28 CC is a 27’8” (8.43 m) center console with walkaround capability and a cabin that sleeps two.  She is powered by a pair of Yamaha F200 outboards that took us to 48.6 MPH.  Windy Boats have a strong reputation for having skilled craftsmen in Västervik, Sweden and Ostróda, Poland building its quality boats since 1966.  The lineup includes the Windy Sport Series, Windy SR Series Chase Boats and yacht tenders with models ranging from 26’ to 60’ (7.92 m to 18.29 m).

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	27' 6" 8.42 m
Beam	8' 2" 2.49 m
Dry Weight	6,173 lb 2,800 kg
Tested Weight	7,695 lb 3,490 kg
Draft	3' 1 m
Deadrise/Transom	20 deg
Weight Capacity	1,389 lb 630 kg
Person Capacity	7
Fuel Capacity	79 gal 300 L
Water Capacity	18 gal 70 L
Total Weight	7,695 lb 3,490 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	2.9 seconds
0 to 30	8.3 seconds
Props	14 x 19p
Load	3 persons; 79.25 gal. fuel; 50 lb gear
Climate	78 deg., 82 humid; wind: 5-10 mph, seas:<1

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 200-hp Yamaha F200
Std. Power	1 x 300-hp Yamaha F300 V6
Opt. Power	2 x 200-hp Yamaha F200

Captain's Report

Windy SR28 CC

Brief Summary

The Windy SR28 CC is a 27’8” (8.43 m) center console with walkaround capability and a cabin that sleeps two.  She is powered by a pair of Yamaha F200 outboards that took us to 48.6 MPH.  Windy Boats have a strong reputation for having skilled craftsmen in Västervik, Sweden and Ostróda, Poland building its quality boats since 1966.  The lineup includes the Windy Sport Series, Windy SR Series Chase Boats and yacht tenders with models ranging from 26’ to 60’ (7.92 m to 18.29 m).

Probably the most notable aspect of this boat is that because of her appeal as a yacht tender, she has an impeccable fit and finish, well-thought-out accouterments and a wide rub rail to protect her when laying up alongside a mother ship or a dock. 

Mission

Talk about a “do it all” boat, the Windy SR28 CC has a lot of functionality.  She’s roomy enough to load her up with guests and there are multiple social zones.  With her plumb bow, she handles waves quite well.  A modest cabin allows her to support overnight missions for a weekending couple.  Her appeal as a yacht tender has been well supported by sales to that specific market segment. 

Major Features

• Plumb-bow hull design
• Premium fit and finish
• Twin outboard power
• Roomy two-person cabin
• Yacht-quality features

Performance

The Windy SR28 CC has a length overall of 27’8” (8.43 m), a beam of 8’2” (2.49 m) and a draft of 3’3” (1 m). With an empty weight of 6,614 lbs. (3,000 kg), full fuel and three people on board, we had an estimated test weight of 7,695 lbs. (3,490 kg). With a pair of 200-hp Yamaha F-200s turning 14 x 19 props and run up to 5500 RPM, our speed topped out at 42.2 knots. During testing at the Windy Factory with eighteen pitch props, their speed topped out at 44 knots. We measured best cruise at 3500 RPM and 26.7 knots. At that speed, the 12.5-gallon-per-hour fuel burn worked out to be 2.1 nautical miles per gallon and a range of 153.2 nautical miles, all while still holding back a 10% reserve with about 79.25-gallon (300 L) total fuel capacity. In acceleration tests, we reached planing speed in an average of 2.9 seconds, cruised through 20 mph in 4.9 and 30 in 8.3 seconds.

Handling

This was a fun boat to drive.  We had a little bit of windblown chop while going through our test area in the Intercoastal Waterway, so not a lot to contend with, but it was fun driving through it. She just skips right along from one wave to the next and cuts through it kind of nicely, maybe a little bit bouncy, but that was to be expected.

I did notice that she's sensitive to trim. A little bit goes a long way, so just give light touches to the trim tabs. Frankly, the only time I needed the trim tabs was to level the boat out for an uneven distribution of weight. That's it. Other than that. Nice, straight and true. There is a bit of bow rise upon acceleration, so don't be shy about hitting the throttle. Get her up on plane and get that bow down again.

Boat Inspection

The "Yacht" Features  

Because the SR28 CC has such appeal as a yacht tender, she has to have qualities that equate to yachting and the upscale demands that those owners expect to see.  On the SR28 CC, it starts with the strength of build.  There are no “hollow” sounds when banging on the bulwarks or the hull.  It’s all a solid, foam-filled and strong hull that can take a pounding. 

Then it goes to the features that we can see.  Starting with the oversized cleats.  The rub rails are huge and allow for laying the 28 up against anything without worry. All decks are Flexiteek. The supports for the table and the hardtop are remarkably thick and secured to the helm seat mount rather than the deck so they don’t take up valuable legroom.  Up higher, those hardtop mounts are wrapped in leather in the grab locations. The cockpit table is a solid wood core with two-tone laminate.  Under aft hatches to both sides at the walkthroughs to the swim platforms, there are cargo storage containers with stainless-steel frames.  Lifting these out provides access to the bilge areas. Finally, the upholstery is upscale and handstitched and its quality can be seen everywhere. 

Comfort Features

The SR28 CC is also a comfortable boat to be on and in.  Those comfort features start with a 43” (109.22 cm) wide aft bench seat with a reversible seatback to convert it from facing the cockpit table to aft facing allowing for watching the action off the stern for coving or watersports.  Beneath is a 36-liter (38.04 qt) refrigerated drawer. 

The table is solid wood with a laminate inlay surrounded by dark tones.  It’s expandable for conversion into a dining table or adding food to the cocktail hour.  In the collapsed position, there are beverage holders along with a leather-wrapped grab rail that doubles as support for the expanded section.  To both side bulwarks, there’s cargo netting for quick drop storage, and those bulwarks come up to a safe height of 28” (71.12 cm).  Beneath the table is a hatch leading to the two engine start batteries and the dual house batteries. 

Forward of the table are the helm and observer’s seats that can be rotated around to become a part of the gathering at the table.  They also adjust fore and aft and include individual flip bolsters.  Above is the canvas T-top mounted 6’11” (2.11 m) off the deck. 

Helm

The helm is starboard side mounted and features a flush-mounted 16” (40.64 cm) Garmin display.  Just alongside is the Yamaha display screen.  The bow thruster is to the left of the wheel and right alongside is a remote for the Garmin display, not really in a “remote” location.  Below are waterproof push-button electrical switches. 

To the right side of the wheel are the engine controls. When bringing the levers forward, the hands approach the trim tab rockers allowing for changes on the fly.  To the right of the entire console is a convenient grab handle and another is just above that serves as the windshield frame.  A hand cutout in the side window allows it to serve as a grab point.  The steering wheel is mounted to a tilt base and there’s a convenient cubby beneath for putting “stuff.” 

Bow

With a symmetrical layout, both side decks are 12” (30.48 cm) wide and accessed by two steps from the cockpit deck.  The supports for the T-top are mounted high up on the side of the console so that they don’t impinge on the side deck clearance but still serve as grab points for stability when transitioning.   Bulwarks come up 17” (43.18 cm) with rails topping out at a safe 25” (63.5 cm). 

Bow seating is two-fold.  First, there’s a 39” (99.06 cm) wide bench seat ahead of the console and facing forward.  Then there’s a U-shaped settee with storage beneath.  This wraps around a solid wood table, much of the same design as the cockpit table, on a hi-lo pedestal.  When lowered, and a filler cushion is added, the area becomes a full-length sunpad.  Surrounding rails come up 12” (30.48 cm) from the seat base. 

Fully forward the rails are split to allow for bow-in boarding.  The foredeck is all non-skid and a hatch conceals an electric windlass and a thru-the-stem anchor roller.  This compartment also serves as a rode locker for the all-chain rode.   Foot-control switches are to both sides of the hatch and 9” (22.86 cm) cleats are located further outboard to both sides.  Beverage holders are flush mounted aft of the hatch. 

Overnighting

The Windy SR28 CC is a capable dayboat and a functional overnighter.  The accommodations are accessed from a sliding smoked acrylic door to the port side of the helm console. 

With a length of 86” (218.44 cm) fore and aft, the berth is a good size for our cruising couple.  At the aft corners, there are open storage cubbies that include 110-V outlets along with USB connectivity, so these make ideal solutions for storing cell phones overnight on a charge.  Headroom down below is 4’7” (1.4 m), which leaves 3’2” (.97 m) over the aft end of the berth and 2’6” (.76 m) over the front, where the bow seating is located and then dropping to 1’4” (.41 m) under the bow deck. 

The head is, not surprisingly, a wet head and includes a sink.  Outside the head and to port of the entrance, there’s a storage module with hinged wooden hatches over two storage spaces.  One of these spaces can be optioned out for a sink, which supplements the sink in the head.    

Optional Equipment

• Choose from a single 300-hp Yamaha or Twin 200s
• T-top White With fabric in Sunbrella Plus Charcoal
• Anchor winch bow
• Bow thruster
• Fridge under cockpit sofa (36L)
• Dashboard Nextel Dark Antracite
• Low lights platform
• Low lights deck
• Underwater lights White (x2)
• Bedside wall panels
• Table on forward deck (Teak)
• Table cushion forward
• Flexiteek deck &platform.
• Shore power 120V w/charger and outlets
• Battery service extra 95Ah AGM
• Chartplotter Garmin 1x16"
• Trim tabs with indicator
• VHF Garmin 315i
• Stereo system upgraded kit

Price

See dealer for pricing.

Observations

Aside from being a fun drive, I really like the layout of the Windy SR28 CC because it's a comfortable boat to spend the day on. Also, the accommodations are nice so you can do some casual overnighting, but mostly it's the fit and finish that’s so striking. It's a yacht-quality boat, which makes it ideal as a tender in addition to being a great family boat.