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Lancer 29 3
Designer: C&C Design  ·  Builder: Lancer  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Lancer 29 3

Designed by the renowned C&C Design team and built by Lancer from 1977 to 1981, this 29-footer represents solid Canadian naval architecture from sailing's golden era. The masthead sloop rig and moderate sail area make her well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures, while her fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides reliable tracking and good maneuverability in tight quarters. With a displacement of 7,800 pounds and 3,000 pounds of ballast, the Lancer 29 3 strikes a practical balance between stability and performance. Her comfort ratio of 22.41 indicates a relatively stiff, quick motion that favors day sailing and shorter coastal passages rather than extended offshore voyaging. The capsize screening value of 2.02 suggests reasonable stability for coastal waters, though prudent seamanship remains essential in challenging conditions. The fiberglass construction and proven C&C design heritage have helped many of these boats endure well into the modern era. Her 10-foot beam provides adequate interior space for a couple or small family, while the moderate draft allows access to a variety of harbors and anchorages. This boat appeals to sailors seeking a well-built, manageable cruiser with respectable sailing characteristics for regional exploration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.67 ft / 8.74 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.50 ft / 7.16 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 5.17 ft / 1.58 m
Displacement 7,800.00 lb / 3,538 kg
Ballast 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 374.00 ft² / 34.75 m²
Headroom 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer C&C Design
Builder Lancer
First Built 1977
Last Built 1981
Related Sailboats ["Ericson 29" · "Seafarer 29" · "Ontario 28" · "San Juan 28" · "Columbia 87"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 194
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.26
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 38.46
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 268.31
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 22.41
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.02
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.50 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.85
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 839.68 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.29
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.83 ft / 3.91 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
SA Fore 224.53 ft² / 20.86 m²
SA Main 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
SA Total (100%) 374.53 ft² / 34.79 m²
Est. Forestay Length 37.28 ft / 11.36 m
Mast Height (DWL) 40.00 ft / 12.19 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Type Diesel
Water Capacity 24 gals / 91 L
How It Compares

vs. Ontario 28, San Juan 28, Seafarer 29

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Lancer 29 3 ★
28.7 ft
Ontario 28
28.6 ft
San Juan 28
28.7 ft
Seafarer 29
28.7 ft
LWL
Lancer 29 3 ★
23.5 ft
Ontario 28
22.0 ft
San Juan 28
22.3 ft
Seafarer 29
21.3 ft
Beam
Lancer 29 3 ★
10.0 ft
Ontario 28
10.0 ft
San Juan 28
10.0 ft
Seafarer 29
9.0 ft
Displacement
Lancer 29 3 ★
7 lbs
Ontario 28
6 lbs
San Juan 28
6 lbs
Seafarer 29
6 lbs
Ballast
Lancer 29 3 ★
3 lbs
Ontario 28
2 lbs
San Juan 28
3 lbs
Seafarer 29
2 lbs
Sail Area
Lancer 29 3 ★
374 sq ft
Ontario 28
400 sq ft
San Juan 28
385 sq ft
Seafarer 29
357 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Lancer 29 3 ★
194 s/nm
Ontario 28
195 s/nm
San Juan 28
186 s/nm
Seafarer 29
210 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Lancer 29 3 ★
15.3
Ontario 28
17.9
San Juan 28
18.3
Seafarer 29
16.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Lancer 29 3 ★
38.5 %
Ontario 28
42.7 %
San Juan 28
50.0 %
Seafarer 29
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Lancer 29 3 ★
22.4
Ontario 28
20.4
San Juan 28
18.4
Seafarer 29
23.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Lancer 29 3 ★
2.02
Ontario 28
2.11
San Juan 28
2.18
Seafarer 29
1.92
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Lancer 29 3 ★
268
Ontario 28
285
San Juan 28
248
Seafarer 29
—
Hull Speed
Lancer 29 3 ★
6.5 kts
Ontario 28
6.3 kts
San Juan 28
6.3 kts
Seafarer 29
6.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Lancer 29 3 ★
1.9
Ontario 28
1.9
San Juan 28
2.3
Seafarer 29
1.6
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