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Northern 29
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Northern Yachts Ltd. (Can)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Northern 29

Designed for sailors seeking a capable and comfortable coastal cruiser, the Northern 29 is a production sailboat that appeals to those looking for a reliable vessel suited to daysailing and weekend cruising on protected and semi-protected waters. Built with an emphasis on practicality, the boat carries the hallmarks of a thoughtfully designed cruising yacht intended to balance ease of handling with seaworthy performance. While detailed specifications for the Northern 29 are limited, the boat has developed a modest following among cruising enthusiasts who value its manageable size and practical layout. A 29-foot hull offers enough space for small crews or couples to cruise comfortably while remaining approachable for less experienced sailors. Boats in this size range typically reward their owners with straightforward rigging, reasonable upkeep costs, and the versatility to explore a variety of sailing environments. Prospective buyers researching the Northern 29 would benefit from connecting with current owners and class communities to gain deeper insight into performance characteristics, common maintenance considerations, and the availability of parts — all important factors when evaluating any vintage or lightly documented production sailboat.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.25 ft / 6.48 m
Beam 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 7,250.00 lb / 3,289 kg
Ballast 3,750.00 lb / 1,701 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Northern Yachts Ltd. (CAN)
First Built 1972
Related Sailboats Cal 29 · C&C 29 · Cal 2 29 · Islander 29 · Gulf Coast 29
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
192
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
51.72
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
337.3
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. 4.1 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.54
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.13 ft / 3.70 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 386.00 ft² / 35.86 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Universal
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 30
Fuel Capacity 10 gals / 38 L
Water Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
How It Compares

vs. C&C 29, Cal 2 29, Cal 29, Gulf Coast 29, Islander 29

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Northern 29 ★
29.0 ft
C&C 29
29.0 ft
Cal 2 29
29.0 ft
Cal 29
29.0 ft
Gulf Coast 29
29.0 ft
Islander 29
29.1 ft
LWL
Northern 29 ★
21.3 ft
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
24.0 ft
Cal 29
24.0 ft
Gulf Coast 29
22.0 ft
Islander 29
23.3 ft
Beam
Northern 29 ★
9.0 ft
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
9.3 ft
Cal 29
9.3 ft
Gulf Coast 29
9.0 ft
Islander 29
8.8 ft
Displacement
Northern 29 ★
7 lbs
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
8 lbs
Cal 29
8 lbs
Gulf Coast 29
9 lbs
Islander 29
7 lbs
Ballast
Northern 29 ★
3 lbs
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
3 lbs
Cal 29
3 lbs
Gulf Coast 29
Islander 29
2 lbs
Sail Area
Northern 29 ★
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
422 sq ft
Cal 29
Gulf Coast 29
340 sq ft
Islander 29
392 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Northern 29 ★
192 s/nm
C&C 29
159 s/nm
Cal 2 29
Cal 29
183 s/nm
Gulf Coast 29
Islander 29
210 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Northern 29 ★
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
16.9
Cal 29
Gulf Coast 29
12.2
Islander 29
16.0
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Northern 29 ★
51.7 %
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
41.9 %
Cal 29
41.9 %
Gulf Coast 29
Islander 29
32.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Northern 29 ★
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
25.0
Cal 29
Gulf Coast 29
32.6
Islander 29
26.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Northern 29 ★
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
1.85
Cal 29
Gulf Coast 29
1.70
Islander 29
1.78
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Northern 29 ★
337
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
258
Cal 29
258
Gulf Coast 29
398
Islander 29
274
Hull Speed
Northern 29 ★
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
6.6 kts
Cal 29
Gulf Coast 29
6.3 kts
Islander 29
6.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Northern 29 ★
C&C 29
Cal 2 29
2.1
Cal 29
Gulf Coast 29
Islander 29
1.9
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