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Pinnacle 29
Designer: Doug Peterson  ·  Builder: Pinnacle Design Group  ·  First built: 1985
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About the Pinnacle 29

Compact and capable, the Pinnacle 29 is a sailboat that sits comfortably in the category of coastal cruisers designed for sailors who want a manageable yet rewarding experience on the water. With limited production documentation widely available, the Pinnacle 29 remains something of a quiet find in the used boat market, appealing to those who prioritize value and practicality over prestige. Based on its size class, the Pinnacle 29 is well suited to day sailing, weekend cruising, and exploring coastal waters with a small crew or family. Boats in this range typically strike a balance between easy handling and enough interior volume to make overnight passages comfortable, and the Pinnacle 29 appears to follow that tradition. For prospective buyers, the relative scarcity of detailed specifications means that a thorough in-person inspection and sea trial are especially important. Consulting with current or previous owners through sailing forums can also surface valuable insights about the boat's performance characteristics, build quality, and any common maintenance considerations. As with many lesser-documented designs, the Pinnacle 29 rewards the patient and diligent researcher.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.89 ft / 9.11 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.50 ft / 7.77 m
Beam 11.17 ft / 3.40 m
Max Draft 5.80 ft / 1.77 m
Displacement 5,600.00 lb / 2,540 kg
Ballast 2,600.00 lb / 1,179 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 464.00 ft² / 43.11 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Doug Peterson
Builder Pinnacle Design Group
First Built 1985
Last Built 1988
Related Sailboats ["Pinnacle 30" · "Olson 911 S" · "J30" · "Catalina 30 Mkii" · "Santana 30 30Gp"]
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
 93
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
 23.61
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
 12.97
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
 2.52
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. 6.77
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
 4.23
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 41.5
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.1
P (Mainsail Luff) 37.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.5
SPL/TPS 13.3
SA Fore 251.08
SA Main 212.75
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 30 Mkii, J30, Olson 911 S

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Pinnacle 29 ★
29.9 ft
Catalina 30 Mkii
29.9 ft
J30
29.8 ft
Olson 911 S
29.9 ft
LWL
Pinnacle 29 ★
25.5 ft
Catalina 30 Mkii
25.0 ft
J30
25.0 ft
Olson 911 S
25.0 ft
Beam
Pinnacle 29 ★
11.2 ft
Catalina 30 Mkii
10.8 ft
J30
11.2 ft
Olson 911 S
10.3 ft
Displacement
Pinnacle 29 ★
5 lbs
Catalina 30 Mkii
10 lbs
J30
7 lbs
Olson 911 S
7 lbs
Ballast
Pinnacle 29 ★
2 lbs
Catalina 30 Mkii
4 lbs
J30
2 lbs
Olson 911 S
3 lbs
Sail Area
Pinnacle 29 ★
464 sq ft
Catalina 30 Mkii
437 sq ft
J30
444 sq ft
Olson 911 S
475 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Pinnacle 29 ★
93 s/nm
Catalina 30 Mkii
186 s/nm
J30
—
Olson 911 S
126 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Pinnacle 29 ★
23.6
Catalina 30 Mkii
14.9
J30
19.5
Olson 911 S
20.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Pinnacle 29 ★
—
Catalina 30 Mkii
41.2 %
J30
—
Olson 911 S
44.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Pinnacle 29 ★
13.0
Catalina 30 Mkii
24.9
J30
16.4
Olson 911 S
18.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Pinnacle 29 ★
2.52
Catalina 30 Mkii
2.00
J30
2.34
Olson 911 S
2.14
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Pinnacle 29 ★
—
Catalina 30 Mkii
291
J30
—
Olson 911 S
205
Hull Speed
Pinnacle 29 ★
6.8 kts
Catalina 30 Mkii
6.7 kts
J30
6.7 kts
Olson 911 S
6.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Pinnacle 29 ★
4.2
Catalina 30 Mkii
1.6
J30
3.0
Olson 911 S
3.0
Find a Pinnacle 29 For Sale
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