Beyer gave the boat a fractional-sloop rig and a fine-ended hull with a fin keel and spade rudder. The result sits firmly among the practical Scandinavian cruiser-racers of the early 1980s rather than the heavier bluewater designs of the previous decade.
Design and Construction
Rex Marin built both the hull and deck in solid fiberglass. The fin keel carries 2,205 pounds of iron ballast, compared with a displacement of 5,071 pounds. Beam is a modest 8.86 feet, and the waterline length is 22.97 feet, giving a length-to-beam ratio of 3.26 and a ballast ratio of about 37 percent.
Draft ranges from 5.41 feet light to 5.71 feet under load. Wetted surface is about 247 square feet, while the immersion rate is roughly 714 pounds per inch—useful figures when considering how the boat will sit and respond as gear is added.
A displacement-length ratio of 235 puts the Aphrodite in the “moderate racer” band rather than the heavy-cruiser class. Its comfort ratio, in the low twenties, suggests a lively boat without being punishing.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Aphrodite carries a fractional-sloop rig with a reported sail area of 350 square feet. The rig is larger than that of 85 percent of comparable sailboats and is significantly overrigged for the size.
Using the ISO reference sail, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 16.3. With a 135 percent genoa, it rises to 18.8, so the boat is designed to move in modest air. The theoretical hull speed is 6.4 knots, and a capsize screening value of 1.91 puts it in sensible company for a coastal design. These figures don’t make the Aphrodite a lightweight planing hull, but they do describe a responsive, easily driven cruiser.
Auxiliary-power options were a Yanmar 1GM10, with a calculated maximum speed of about 4.2 knots, or a Volvo Penta MD5, at about 3.7 knots. Both drive through a shaft.
Accommodations
Below, the Aphrodite 29 has five berths, a galley, and a separate head. The interior is finished in teak, as was standard for the era. That joinery is period-typical rather than a distinguishing luxury.
The 8.86-foot beam naturally limits cabin width, and the compact interior follows directly from the narrow hull. Even so, five berths and a separate head make this a genuine weekender rather than a daysailer with a pipe berth.
Known Issues
Because every Aphrodite 29/291 was sold for home completion, finish and build quality may vary considerably from one boat to another. Structural details, deck-hardware bedding, and engine-installation quality were left to each individual builder rather than controlled by a single production line.
The iron keel also deserves attention. Unlike lead, iron ballast is vulnerable to corrosion if its protective coating is compromised. A home-finished hull may not have received the same protection as a factory build.
The Verdict
The Aphrodite 29/291 is a small, well-proportioned Beyer design with a substantial rig and sail plan, a moderate-racer displacement profile, and a practical five-berth interior. Its 100-boat production run and kit-built origins mean condition can vary widely, so each example must be judged on its own merits.
For a sailor looking for a responsive 29-footer with teak below and a serious rig, the Aphrodite can reward careful selection.
Pros
- Fractional-sloop rig significantly larger than those of most peers
- Easily driven with a genoa
- Five berths, a galley, and a head in a 29-foot fiberglass hull
- Moderate-racer displacement and comfort ratios suited to lively coastal cruising
Cons
- Entire production run was sold as kits, so build quality varies between boats
- Iron keel ballast is susceptible to corrosion if its coating fails
- Narrow 8.86-foot beam limits interior volume
