Design and Construction
Luyten's hull measures 8.84 meters overall with a 6.78-meter waterline, a 2.50-meter beam, and a standard draft near 1.30 meters that can reach 1.40 meters under load, letting the boat tuck into shallow marinas. Displacement is 3,600 kg with a 39% ballast ratio, and the hull and deck are solid fiberglass. The length-to-beam ratio of 3.54 makes her slimmer than 90% of comparable sailboat designs, while a displacement-length ratio of 244 places her among moderate racers rather than heavy cruisers. Her capsize screening value of 1.75 and immersion rate of about 686 pounds per inch round out a picture of a comparatively narrow, moderately loaded coastal cruiser.
Rig and Handling
The Contest 29 carries a masthead rig with a sail area of 41 m² and a standard SA/D of 16.8 that rises to 19.8 with a 135% genoa. That places her slightly overrigged relative to 69% of similar boats and quicker than 58% of them in light wind. The wetted surface runs about 21 m², and the theoretical hull speed is 6.6 knots; under the Bukh 20hp diesel with shaft drive, calculated maximum speed is about 4.0 knots. Halyard and sheet specifications are generous for the size — mainsheet and halyards of 8 mm and 10 mm diameters at lengths near 23 meters — supporting a robust cruising rig rather than a stripped racer.
Accommodations
Below, the standard layout offers two cabins, a single head, and six berths, with headroom described as above average for the class. The interior is finished in mahogany, a conventional choice of the period that gives the saloon a warm, traditional character. The two-cabin arrangement and six-berth count suggest a boat pitched at small families or couples cruising with guests rather than solo weekend sailing.
The Verdict
The Contest 29 is a thoughtfully proportioned small cruiser whose narrow beam and moderate displacement yield a comfortable motion — her Motion Comfort Ratio of 24.1 to 31.0 beats 90% of similar designs — without sacrificing light-air pace from the slightly overrigged masthead plan. She is a straightforward, well-found Luyten design of the mid-sixties, built in meaningful numbers and easy to haul for shallow-water cruising, though her modest engine speed and narrow hull limit offshore range.
Pros
- Above-average headroom and six berths in a two-cabin layout
- More comfortable motion than 90% of similar sailboats
- Shallow 1.30 m draft eases marina and anchorage access
- Slightly overrigged masthead sloop performs well in light wind
Cons
- Calculated max engine speed only about 4.0 knots
- Slimmer and lower ballast ratio than many comparable cruisers
- Narrow beam limits interior volume versus later designs
