Seafarer 29 CB Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Seafarer 29 CB began its production run in 1972, at a time when Seafarer Fiberglass Yachts was in a prolific period, with many of their designs originating from McCurdy & Rhodes. The builder, Seafarer, had transitioned from an importer to a direct boat manufacturer in 1965, establishing a reputation for producing well-regarded fiberglass sailboats. Their design philosophy often embraced "racing-inspired hull designs" alongside cruising comfort, a characteristic evident in the Seafarer 29 CB's IOR Half Ton designation.

A distinctive aspect of the Seafarer 29 CB's production was its availability in two primary deck configurations: a standard 'trunk cabin' version and a 'Futura' version, which featured the cabin sloping into the foredeck. This choice allowed for variations in aesthetics and potentially interior volume. Furthermore, consistent with Seafarer's business model, some Seafarer 29 CBs were sold as kits, allowing owners to undertake the completion of their yachts themselves. Production of the Seafarer 29 CB continued until Seafarer Fiberglass Yachts ceased operations in the mid-1980s.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Seafarer 29 CB's design by McCurdy & Rhodes, a firm known for sound naval architecture, contributes to its balanced sailing characteristics. With a reported sail area of 356 square feet and a displacement of 6,665 pounds, its sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D) is approximately 16.07. This indicates a moderately powered boat, suggesting good all-around performance without being overly tender or underpowered. The ballast of 2,490 pounds, comprising about 37.3% of its displacement, contributes to its stability, allowing it to stand up to a decent breeze.

Its displacement-to-length ratio (D/L) of roughly 310 categorizes it as a moderate to heavy displacement vessel, typical of cruisers designed for comfort and seakindliness in its era. The boat features a keel/centerboard hull type, providing a minimum draft of 2.5 feet and a maximum draft of 4.5 feet when the centerboard is deployed. This allows for excellent shoal draft capability, making it suitable for exploring shallower anchorages while offering improved upwind performance with the board down. Anecdotal accounts suggest the Seafarer 29, in its various configurations, possesses a generous sail plan that contributes to good light-air performance.

Accommodations and Layout

While specific detailed interior layouts for the Seafarer 29 CB are not widely published, a vessel of its size and era, designed as a cruiser-racer, would typically feature a functional and comfortable arrangement suitable for weekend cruising or short coastal trips. The primary distinction in the interior experience would arise from the 'trunk cabin' versus 'Futura' deck configurations. The 'Futura' version, with its cabin sloping into the foredeck, would likely offer a more open and airy feel forward, potentially impacting standing headroom or berth arrangements compared to the more traditional 'trunk cabin'.

Generally, a 29-foot sailboat from the early 1970s would incorporate a V-berth forward, an enclosed head, a saloon with settees that may convert into berths, and a compact galley. Storage would typically be found beneath berths and settees. Seafarer Yachts were known for producing well-regarded fiberglass sailboats, suggesting a sturdy, if not always opulent, interior finish common to production boats of the period. While exact headroom figures are not consistently available, owners of similar era boats sometimes undertook modifications to increase perceived or actual headroom, indicating it might be modest by modern standards.