The Davidson 29 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 26.3′, the Davidson 29 tops out around 6.9 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √26.3′ LWL = 6.9 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
117s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
21.7
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
33.8%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
175
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
16.0
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.34
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
16.0
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.34
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Davidson 29 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Olson 29
99s/nm
Davidson 29
117s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
X 302
146s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.1 |
3.9 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.6 |
5.8 |
6.5 |
7.1 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
| Run150–180° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.9 kts),
SA/D (21.7), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Davidson 29 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Davidson 29.
|
Davidson 29 |
First 29 Beneteau |
First 300 Beneteau |
J30 |
Olson 29 |
X 302 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
29.8 |
29.7 |
29.7 |
29.8 |
29.7 |
29.8 |
| LWL |
26.3 |
26.2 |
29.1 |
25.0 |
27.5 |
26.4 |
| Beam |
11.3 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
11.2 |
9.3 |
9.8 |
| Displacement |
7 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
7 |
| Ballast |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
500 |
388 |
477 |
444 |
365 |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
117 |
— |
— |
— |
99 |
146 |
| SA/Disp |
21.7 |
17.0 |
21.5 |
19.5 |
24.9 |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
33.8 |
31.4 |
36.1 |
— |
— |
41.7 |
| Comfort |
16.0 |
19.2 |
17.0 |
16.4 |
10.1 |
— |
| Capsize |
2.34 |
2.04 |
2.08 |
2.34 |
2.44 |
— |
| Hull Speed |
6.9 |
6.9 |
7.2 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
— |