Gulf 29 Buyer's Guide
The Gulf 29 is a pilothouse cruiser built by Capital Yachts in Harbor City, California, from 1982 to 1988, with around 200 hulls produced before the design ended as the last of the Gulf series. On the used market it appears as a compact, beamy coastal boat with an enclosed helm and three documented interior plans — a practical choice for sheltered-water cruising rather than bluewater ambition.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Gulf 29 carries a double V-berth forward, but the used fleet splits across three accommodation plans. The starboard and port aft galley versions each sleep four, differing only in which side holds the L-shaped galley and which holds the single aft berth; both place the head just aft of the bow cabin. The aft cabin-aft head layout sleeps five with two settee berths in the main saloon and a wide single aft berth to starboard. All galleys are equipped with a two-burner stove, ice box, and sink, and all boats use a Universal M-18 diesel for docking and maneuvering. The pilothouse with twin wheels — cockpit and enclosed helm — is standard, making the boat recognizable regardless of interior.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Brokers' listings commonly show solar panels, AIS, autopilot, and a chartplotter already fitted, reflecting the boat's coastal and single-handed appeal. For a shopper, solar and autopilot extend the pilothouse cruiser's relaxed pace under way, while AIS and chartplotter support navigation in busy protected waters. Beyond those, the boat's defining equipment is its twin-wheel steering and the Universal M-18 — neither an upgrade nor commonly changed.
What to Inspect
The Gulf 29's documentation centers on configuration rather than defects: confirm which of the three interior plans a specific hull carries and whether it has the standard 4-foot-11-inch fin keel or the 4-foot shoal version, since the two change grounding tolerance. Verify the twin-wheel steering runs freely from both cockpit and pilothouse, and that the Universal M-18 starts and maneuvers the 7,500-pound hull as expected.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Gulf 29 is typically found in Canada. For a buyer, the short checklist is: choose the interior plan that fits your berth needs, decide between standard and shoal keel for your waters, confirm the pilothouse twin-wheel steering, and expect solar, AIS, autopilot, and chartplotter as common fittings. It is a limited-production coastal cruiser — best judged as a sheltered-water pilothouse boat, not an offshore passagemaker.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Gulf 29. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 2 | $24,505 | — |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $22,995 | -6.2% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $24,900 | +8.3% |
Where they're listed
Gulf 29 listings appear across 2 countries. Canada has the most listings with 4 (66.7%), followed by United States.
Country view
6 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $23,505 | 4 | 0 | 66.7% |
| United States | $24,900 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallberg-Rassy 29 | 29.2' | $ 41,224 | 47 | 9 |
| Island Packet 29 | 32' | $ 53,950 | 29 | 7 |
| Moody 29 | 29.53' | $ 16,886 | 26 | 4 |
| Saturna 33 | 33' | $ 46,390 | 8 | 4 |
| Gulf 29You are here | — | $ 24,900 | 7 | 2 |
| Delphia 29 | 28.2' | $ 37,697 | 5 | 0 |