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Martin 29
Designer: Don Martin  ·  Builder: Cooper Enterprises Ltd. (Can)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Martin 29

Designed during the late 1970s as an affordable cruising sailboat, this 29-footer represents the era's focus on practical family sailing. The Martin 29 emerged from a period when builders prioritized accessible price points while maintaining seaworthy characteristics for coastal adventures. Built with a moderate displacement hull and traditional lines, the design emphasizes stability and comfort over racing performance. The boat features a spacious cockpit that accommodates crew easily, making it particularly appealing for day sailing and weekend coastal cruising. Below decks, the interior layout maximizes the available space with practical accommodations for extended trips. While not achieving the widespread recognition of some contemporaries, the Martin 29 developed a loyal following among sailors seeking dependable performance without premium pricing. The boat handles typical coastal conditions well, offering predictable sailing characteristics that inspire confidence in newer sailors while remaining engaging for experienced crews. Construction quality varies among individual boats, as with many production sailboats of this vintage, making careful inspection important for prospective buyers. Those seeking an affordable entry into cruising or a reliable coastal sailing platform often find the Martin 29's combination of space, stability, and value proposition compelling for their sailing goals.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.58 ft / 8.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.50 ft / 6.86 m
Beam 9.25 ft / 2.82 m
Max Draft 4.75 ft / 1.45 m
Displacement 6,200.00 lb / 2,812 kg
Ballast 2,500.00 lb / 1,134 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Don Martin
Builder Cooper Enterprises Ltd. (CAN)
First Built 1972
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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
208
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
40.32
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
242.99
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. 4.46 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 17.21
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.40 ft / 3.47 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 362.00 ft² / 33.63 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Volvo
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 12
Fuel Capacity 12 gals / 45 L
Water Capacity 24 gals / 91 L
How It Compares

vs. Lancer 29 3, Ontario 28, Ranger 29 Mull

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Martin 29 ★
28.6 ft
Lancer 29 3
28.7 ft
Ontario 28
28.6 ft
Ranger 29 Mull
28.6 ft
LWL
Martin 29 ★
22.5 ft
Lancer 29 3
23.5 ft
Ontario 28
22.0 ft
Ranger 29 Mull
23.0 ft
Beam
Martin 29 ★
9.3 ft
Lancer 29 3
10.0 ft
Ontario 28
10.0 ft
Ranger 29 Mull
9.3 ft
Displacement
Martin 29 ★
6 lbs
Lancer 29 3
7 lbs
Ontario 28
6 lbs
Ranger 29 Mull
6 lbs
Ballast
Martin 29 ★
2 lbs
Lancer 29 3
3 lbs
Ontario 28
2 lbs
Ranger 29 Mull
3 lbs
Sail Area
Martin 29 ★
Lancer 29 3
374 sq ft
Ontario 28
400 sq ft
Ranger 29 Mull
410 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Martin 29 ★
208 s/nm
Lancer 29 3
194 s/nm
Ontario 28
195 s/nm
Ranger 29 Mull
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Martin 29 ★
Lancer 29 3
15.3
Ontario 28
17.9
Ranger 29 Mull
18.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Martin 29 ★
40.3 %
Lancer 29 3
38.5 %
Ontario 28
42.7 %
Ranger 29 Mull
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Martin 29 ★
Lancer 29 3
22.4
Ontario 28
20.4
Ranger 29 Mull
21.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Martin 29 ★
Lancer 29 3
2.02
Ontario 28
2.11
Ranger 29 Mull
1.98
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Martin 29 ★
242
Lancer 29 3
268
Ontario 28
285
Ranger 29 Mull
Hull Speed
Martin 29 ★
Lancer 29 3
6.5 kts
Ontario 28
6.3 kts
Ranger 29 Mull
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Martin 29 ★
Lancer 29 3
1.9
Ontario 28
1.9
Ranger 29 Mull
2.4
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