Alerion Yachts and the Modern American Daysailer

From Herreshoff's Alerion III to a production fiberglass boat

The name goes back to 1912, when Nathanael Herreshoff drew Alerion III for his own sailing on Narragansett Bay. That boat, with its long overhangs, low freeboard and generous sail plan, became a reference point for anyone who believes a small yacht should look as good as it sails. Decades later, in the 1980s, Connecticut sailor Ralph Schacter commissioned a fiberglass interpretation of the concept.

The result was the Alerion Express 28, drawn by Carl Schumacher, with a prototype built in 1989 and production starting in 1990. Schumacher kept the spirit of the Herreshoff original but gave it a fin keel, spade rudder and a fractional rig that made it quick and responsive. Most hulls were built by Tillotson Pearson in Rhode Island, with Holby Marine and later Alerion Yachts itself also building boats. Garry Hoyt, the Newport sailor and inventor behind several clever rigs, joined the project in 1994 and added his jib boom and a fin-and-bulb keel. By 2019 roughly 470 Alerion 28s had been launched, an impressive run for a boat with only three berths and a portable head.

A builder that sells sailing, not berth counts

Alerion has never chased the cruising market. The brand's argument is that most owners sail for an afternoon and go home, so a boat should be optimized for that. The Alerion 28 has a huge cockpit, a small cabin and a rig that one person can handle, thanks largely to the optional Hoyt self-tacking jib boom. Tacking up a crowded harbor without touching a sheet is the experience owners talk about most.

The brand later added larger Alerion Express models in the 30-plus foot range and, more recently, the Alerion 41, but the 28 remains the core of its identity and the model we review in detail. Production volumes have always been small, and the company's ownership and build arrangements have changed over the years, so buyers looking at a new boat should confirm the current builder and warranty terms directly with the company.

Why used Alerions sell fast

The used Alerion 28 market is one of the healthiest among small sailboats in the US. Typical asking prices run from about $38,000 for older, tired boats to around $95,000 for late, well-equipped examples. Demand is strongest in New England, Long Island Sound, the Chesapeake and the Great Lakes, where the boat's classic look fits yacht club moorings and short summer seasons.

Because the boats were built in Rhode Island and the design is simple, service is not a concern. Any competent New England yard can handle them, and an active owner community shares tips on rigging, sails and upgrades.

• Check the hull-to-keel joint and keel bolts, especially on boats that have been grounded
• Inspect cored deck areas around stanchions and hardware for moisture
• Look at the Hoyt jib boom fittings and gooseneck for wear
• Confirm the condition of the varnished teak trim, which is costly to restore
• Review the small inboard diesel's service history and cooling system