In autumn 2015, the LA 28 caused a sensation on the German boat market as a real eye-catcher. Its design and materials ensured a steady stream of interested visitors for this new model at the Hanseboot boat show. Not only are new wooden boats now a rare sight, but the distinctive design – with its strongly rounded side deck, carbon-fibre rig and membrane sails – represents a blend of classic and modern elements that is sure to captivate any sailor.
The man behind the LA 28 is Lothar Fichtner from Waren an der Müritz. An entrepreneur in industrial plant construction, and a former cruiser and occasional regatta sailor, he wanted a daysailer with which he could sail in the Mediterranean off the coast of Mallorca, where he spends the winter months. It had to be suitable for single-handed sailing and have sufficient ballast.
Measurements from the LA 28
To this end, he had already had a Shark 24 restored, a project that gave rise to a small boatyard in Waren, in collaboration with master boatbuilder Andreas Zehle, who had previously worked as a planer and varnisher at the Christen boatyard, known for its fast 1920s regatta dinghies. However, he had lost his job and now found a new employer in Fichtner. The partnership between the two is also reflected in the company name: LA-Yacht stands for Lothar and Andi.
Originally, Fichtner had a completely different plan for building his boat for Mallorca: he bought the hull of a modern ‘20er’ dinghy cruiser. This was lengthened and served as a mould for a ‘20er’, which Fichtner intends to sail on Lake Müritz – the shipyard’s first genuine new build. “At first, the aim was simply to keep people in work,” says Fichtner, who later also took on two journeymen, “you can’t just let artists like that, with their woodworking skills, walk away.” The 20er mould was then to be further modified and given higher sides, and the planned boat was to be fitted with a keel from the Far East 26, which Fichtner had ordered from China.
However, as he began to have doubts as to whether it would all fit together properly, he sought the advice of Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design in Laboe, a proven expert in the field. This was clearly not a bad decision: Menzner had to dampen Fichtner’s enthusiasm – the 20er did not have sufficient volume for such a keel.
But since the elaborate keel assembly – with its carbon shaft and lead bulb – was already there, Fichtner commissioned Menzner to design a boat that could accommodate this keel. It also had to be a real eye-catcher, as the young shipyard needed to attract attention. Menzner drew inspiration for his design from the shapes of modern multihulls, with their wave-piercing bows and rounded decks, which reduce wind resistance. “I am convinced that these stylistic elements will increasingly find their way into mainstream yacht building,” said Menzner.
Rounded corners create space below deck
The most striking feature – the rounded transition from the hull to the deck – is a delight to both the eye and the touch. Hardly any visitor to the exhibition could resist running their hand along the beautifully shaped curve. The aim of attracting attention was thus achieved.
However, the curve conceals much more that is interesting, which only becomes apparent once inside. The height of the freeboard can be very effectively concealed by the curve. This allows the deck to be positioned higher, resulting in a very unobtrusive, flat superstructure whilst still providing an enormous amount of headroom for a daysailer of this size. The same result could have been achieved with a sloping transition between the hull and deck, similar to that on the Bente, 24, “But we wanted to show what the boatbuilders are capable of and also create a beautiful boat, which is why we used the moulded lamination technique,” said Menzner.
This involves gluing several layers of mahogany veneer on top of one another, which is not possible with sharp bends. The veneer would break – another reason, then, for the curves. At the same time, this stylistic element necessitated an unconventional manufacturing method. Rather than building the hull and deck separately and then joining them, a complete left and right side are glued together in the middle.
Hardly any comfort, but four full-size sleeping berths
Thanks to the relatively high deck, it is still possible to sit comfortably on the dog berths in the saloon, even beneath the side deck, where the headroom is 73 centimetres. This is all the more important given that the LA 28 otherwise offers little in the way of comfort; it is, after all, a daysailer, albeit one with four full-size berths and a mini saloon. The ‘headroom’ there, however, is just 1.35 metres – but that’s all that’s needed.
On the drawing board, there is also a variant with a superstructure extended approximately 50 centimetres aft. This allows for a small toilet cubicle. Even in the basic version, there is space for a stove on the shelves next to the keel box.
This box – rather unusual for a keelboat – is necessary to allow the keel to be retracted for trailer transport. The head of the keel fin sits in this box like a foot in a shoe. When the boat is lifted onto the trailer by a crane with the securing bolts loosened, the fin slides upwards through the box. A lifting keel is intended to work in a similar way in a later version, where a pulley block can be used to reduce the draught from 1.75 to 1.1 metres. However, in both versions, it cannot be fully retracted due to the lack of headroom inside the hull.
Agile despite its keel and a deck layout suitable for single-handed sailing
The 600-kilogram keel accounts for almost half the boat’s weight, meaning this small cruiser can carry a correspondingly large sail area. Nevertheless, it is so rigid that even inexperienced sailors should be able to handle it. Because of the intended Suitable for one-handed use The jib is self-tacking, so the helmsman only needs to handle the mainsail. The LA 28 sails close to the wind, achieving tacking angles of less than 45 degrees.
However, the 65-square-metre gennaker acts as both the accelerator and the catalyst for fun. As the boat is very light for its length – weighing just over a tonne in total – it responds instantly to gusts and converts wind pressure into speed. As the wind picks up, the gennaker sheet can be routed to one of the winches on the superstructure, which is necessary as the gennaker then develops considerable tension. Even in light winds of two to three on the Beaufort scale, the speed often climbed into double figures.
Great performance, high price
The carbon rig, carbon keel and rudder, lead ballast and very high-quality fittings from Harken all contributed to the price. The same applies to the labour-intensive craftsmanship and the expensive materials such as mahogany and epoxy. In return, however, you get a truly unique daysailer with all the charm of a wooden boat, which is sure to turn heads wherever it sails.
YACHT review of the LA 28
A daysailer that is turning heads with its design and wooden construction. Thanks to its substantial ballast and ease of handling, this sporty, small cruiser – with its high-quality finish – can be handled even by novice sailors.
Design and Concept
Original design
Lightweight thanks to moulded construction
Risk of slipping on the curve of the deck
Sailing performance and trim
Excellent sailing performance
Can be used with one hand
Well-designed fitting layout
Housing and build quality
First-class boatbuilding
Four full-size berths
Cramped saloon due to the keel box
Equipment and Technology
High-quality fittings
Minimalism suited to daysailers
The LA 28 in detail
Technical specifications of the LA 28
- Designer: Martin Menzner
- CE design category: C
- Fuselage length: 8.50 m
- Width: 2.50 m
- Draught: 1.75 m
- Weight: 1.3 t
- Ballast/ballast content: 0.6 t/46 per cent
- Mainsail: 22 m²
- Self-tacking jib: 15 m²
- Machine: Inboard diesel, electric saildrive or electric inboard motor can be fitted
Hull and deck construction
Glued-together mahogany, two hull shells, joined in the centre. Bulkheads and fittings made of plywood.
Lothar Fichtner passed away in mid-July 2026. Born in Wernigerode in 1953, the mechanical engineer was a successful entrepreneur and a passionate sailor. Following a career in the fittings manufacturing industry – during which he rose through the ranks from sales to managing director and shareholder, whilst helping to develop the company – he devoted himself more fully to sailing after retiring from professional life. However, his passion for the sport had been with him since his early years. Family sailing began with a ‘Piraten’ dinghy he had built himself; later, Fichtner was active as a regatta sailor in the Shark 24 class, amongst other things, and took part in World and European Championships.
Over the decades, Lake Müritz became the centre of his sailing life. From 1978 onwards, he spent a great deal of time on the water there with his family; later, he also became involved in regatta racing with his Hanse yachts. Eventually, Fichtner combined his technical and business experience with his passion for boatbuilding and founded his own shipyard in Waren. Among other vessels, this is where the LA 28 ‘La Luna’ was built, on which he competed in the Copa del Rey in Mallorca as recently as last year. YACHT magazine tested one of the designs from Fichtner’s shipyard in 2015. We are now making this test report, which has not previously been published online, available in light of his passing.
Book recommendations
Yacht and boat building covers timber and other boatbuilding materials, the construction of frames, types of planking and deck construction.
Yacht design focuses on the aesthetic and design concepts behind exceptional sailing yachts. The book profiles influential European yacht designers and their designs through photographs, texts and interviews. For readers, it complements the technical perspective by exploring how clean lines, the choice of materials and proportions shape a boat’s character.
Is an elaborately built daysailer made of wood and carbon fibre a fascinating feat of boatbuilding, or a luxury where the cost no longer justifies the benefit? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital