Design and Construction
Primrose's 29-foot motorsailer draws on a long-keel hull with solid fiberglass construction, a draft that varies between 1.12 and 1.22 meters depending on load, and an attached rudder. The length-to-beam ratio of 3.20 makes her slimmer than 62% of all similar sailboat designs, while a displacement-length ratio of 249 puts her among what one review termed "moderate racers" — though the 29-foot boat's 29% ballast ratio (2,900 pounds of iron) sits higher than only 4% of comparable designs, a reflection of the motorsailer's weight-forward hull philosophy rather than racing ballast practice. Her immersion rate of about 148 kg per centimeter (830 pounds per inch) speaks to a hull that settles predictably under cruising stores. The wetted surface of roughly 23 square meters underpins her motion character in a seaway.
Rig and Handling
The Finnsailer 29 is built with a masthead rig carrying a mainsail-and-jib area of 27.6 square meters, or 297 square feet. Period analysis found her significantly overrigged — she carries more rig than 82% of all similar sailboats — with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 10.3 on the ISO reference sail and 12.2 with a 135% genoa, figures that still leave her faster than 4% of similar designs in light wind. The capsize screening value of 1.70 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 29.6 — more comfortable than 85% of all similar designs — describe a stable, easy-riding hull. A shaft-drive Perkins diesel (the 4.108 M at 37 hp is listed as possible fit, while a 50 hp Perkins appears in specification records) turns a calculated maximum of about 7.3 knots against a theoretical hull speed of 6.8 knots.
Accommodations
Below, the Finnsailer 29 sleeps six across a layout that includes a galley and a toilet facility. Fresh water capacity is 300 liters (about 79 US gallons), paired with a 300-liter fuel tank that supports the motorsailer brief on longer passages.
Refits and Ownership
The boat's simple solid-fiberglass hull and long-keel configuration make for straightforward ownership. The inboard diesel with shaft drive is a conventional, serviceable arrangement, and the masthead rig's standing and running rigging — halyards of 21.6 meters at 8 mm, sheets around 8.9 to 22.2 meters at 10 mm — are standard sizes easy to renew.
The Verdict
The Finnsailer 29 is a modest, well-mannered motorsailer whose long-keel solid-fiberglass hull and comfortable motion profile suit relaxed cruising more than spirited sailing. Her overrigged masthead plan and low light-air speed ratio confirm she is built to motor when the breeze fails, not to outrun her peers. For a buyer wanting a stable, simple 29-foot cruiser with six berths and serious tankage, she remains a sensible period design.
Pros
- Motion Comfort Ratio higher than 85% of similar designs
- Solid fiberglass long-keel hull with predictable immersion
- Six berths with galley, head, and 300 L water and fuel capacity
Cons
- Ballast ratio higher than only 4% of similar designs
- Sail-area-to-displacement leaves her faster than just 4% in light wind
- Significantly overrigged relative to 82% of comparable boats
