Cuthbertson & Cassian designed the boat as a Half Ton class contender, with a masthead sloop rig, fin keel, and internally mounted spade rudder. Her lines marked a deliberate departure from the volume distribution of earlier C&C designs.
Design and Construction
C&C built the C&C 29 in fiberglass, with a solid hull and 2,700 pounds of lead ballast set in a 5.25-foot fin keel. A shoal-draft version draws 4.0 feet. The boat displaces 7,500 pounds and carries a 10-foot-4-inch beam over a 23-foot-6-inch waterline, making her a moderately loaded 29-footer.
The designers shifted hull volume from below the waterline to the topsides. Former C&C sales manager Hank Evans described the resulting topside flare as rather extreme. That flare gives the deckhouse and berths their width, but it also affects the boat’s behavior on the wind.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead sloop rig has a 39.5-foot foretriangle with a 12.8-foot base. It carries a 169-square-foot mainsail and a 253-square-foot jib or genoa, for 422 square feet of sail in total. A PHRF average of 177 and a hull speed of 6.51 knots put the C&C 29 firmly in the club-racer category.
Owners report that the hull is tender and tends to develop weather helm. These traits result directly from the volume-forward topside geometry rather than any defect in the rig. The fin keel and spade rudder help the boat turn speed into responsive handling, but she requires attentive steering and sail trim as the breeze builds.
Accommodations
The C&C 29 sleeps six. Just forward of the companionway ladder, an L-shaped galley to starboard includes a stove, ice box, and sink. A dedicated navigation station sits opposite, to port.
The head is just aft of the bow cabin. This arrangement keeps the forepeak sleeping area serviceable without requiring a long walk through the main saloon. Below decks, the topside flare and beam carried well forward provide useful cabin width.
Engine and Cruising Systems
A 30-horsepower Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine drives a direct shaft and draws fuel from a 13-gallon tank. It’s a simple, well-understood package for an owner to service. Fresh-water capacity is 20 gallons.
With those capacities and her racer-cruiser brief, the C&C 29 is best suited to sailors who value light-air responsiveness and cabin volume over heavy-weather passivity.
Known Issues
The boat’s principal known handling traits are tenderness and weather helm. Both are inherent in the design’s volume distribution and are managed through sail trim rather than repair.
Buyers should also note that C&C produced an unrelated model called the C&C 29-2. Although sold under the same name, it is a distinct design and shouldn’t be confused with this boat when comparing specifications.
The Verdict
The C&C 29 is a purpose-built racer-cruiser from C&C’s late-1970s era. She’s quick, roomy for her length, and rewarding for a crew willing to trim actively. Her extreme topside flare is central to both her interior volume and lively helm. Owners who accept that trade-off will find a well-built fiberglass boat with straightforward systems.
Pros
- Six berths and a wide beam carried forward for a 29-footer
- L-shaped galley and dedicated navigation station in a compact layout
- Universal Atomic 4 power with a simple direct drive
Cons
- Tender hull form with pronounced weather helm
- Limited 13-gallon fuel and 20-gallon water capacities for extended cruising
- The unrelated C&C 29-2 shares the model name, which can confuse specification comparisons
