Hull, Keel, and Construction
The 29.5 measures 29 feet 6 inches on deck with a beam of 10 feet 6 inches — unusually wide for the waterline length, which is just 25 feet 3 inches. That broad transom section feeds a large cockpit and a molded swim platform, but it also means the hull carries significant flare in the aft quarters. The deck is cored with balsa, and the hull is a solid fiberglass composite; interior components are molded separately and assembled with structural adhesives, standard production practice for the era.
The keel arrangement drew particular attention at launch. Rather than a conventional external lead fin bolted through the hull, the 29.5 uses a fibreglass fin moulded integrally with the hull, into which an internal lead casting is set. A lead bulb-and-wing casting then slips onto the lower portion of the fin and is bolted upward through the fiberglass — so the keel-to-hull joint is continuous moulded glass rather than a bolted seam that can flex or weep. The lead shoe at the bottom is deliberately sacrificial: designed to absorb the impact of grounding rather than transmitting it to the laminate above. Draft is a shallow 4 feet, opening the boat to thin-water cruising.
The rudder drew similar engineering attention. A fiberglass shaft, cross-sectionally shaped like a two-by-six, is embedded in the rudder blade and bears against a circular hull fitting. Destructive testing of the prototype confirmed that the fiberglass shaft is stronger yet more than 100 pounds lighter than the stainless steel shaft it replaced — a meaningful saving on a 7,000-pound boat.
Rig and Sail Handling
The most immediately striking feature topside is the absence of a backstay. The 29.5 carries a B&R rig with long spreaders swept back 30 degrees and high main-shroud tension that carries from the chainplates all the way to the forestay-mast intersection, eliminating the need for a running or standing backstay entirely. The practical consequence is a mainsail with an aggressive roach that would be impossible to set against a backstay wire. Sail area is concentrated in that large main; the headsail is a small fractional jib that tacks easily short-handed or single-handed without requiring much purchase on the sheet winch.
The mainsheet leads to a 3:1 manual purchase on the steering console directly in front of the helmsman, with the other end traveling forward to a mast-base winch on the coachroof. Adjustment is possible from either position, so the helmsman can trim the main without leaving the wheel. The absence of a traveler is noted, meaning sheeting angle is fixed, but on a boat optimized for comfort over racing this is a minor concession. An asymmetrical spinnaker can be set from a retractable pole; efficient on a reach but less effective dead downwind, it suits the boat's character well. Sailing dead downwind with swept spreaders requires tacking downwind to keep the mainsail off the spreader tips, though this can actually produce faster VMG angles in appropriate conditions.
Accommodations
Below, the 29.5 delivers on its inside-out design brief. The main saloon is dominated by a U-shaped dinette that seats four adults comfortably, with the wraparound settees running all the way to the hull sides — a configuration that maximizes both table size and the sense of space. The dining table doubles as a navigation station, with chart storage integrated and the VHF and electrical panel located overhead in aircraft-style fashion, accessible from either position. Forward of the saloon a V-berth opens directly onto the U-shaped seating without an intervening bulkhead, creating a single large social space that the designer compared to the open C&C 24 layout of the 1970s. Privacy forward is limited to a curtain.
The head and a small hanging locker are to starboard amidships; the galley to port carries a two-burner non-pressurized alcohol stove, an ice box, and a single sink. Aft, beneath the cockpit, the athwartships double berth is wide enough to sleep a person more than seven feet tall, with generous headroom provided by the high cockpit floor. The engine box beneath the companionway steps houses the 18 hp Yanmar two-cylinder diesel; quick access for routine maintenance is limited, though the box can be removed for more involved work.
The price of all this open volume is storage. The athwartships double berth eliminates the cockpit seat lockers that would normally provide the bulk of under-deck stowage. Space beneath the galley and dinette seats exists but is awkward to reach, and the V-berth area offers limited dedicated stowage. Crews who cruise aboard will need to think carefully about what they bring.
On Deck and Cockpit
The cockpit is disproportionately large for a 30-footer, and at anchor the molded swim platform merges with the stern to extend that space further. Wheel steering is standard; two seats are built into the stern rail specifically for passengers, though placing crew weight at the extreme transom is hydrodynamically suboptimal. The side decks are narrow, and the chainplates sit at the deck edge, so moving forward is most practical over the coachroof rather than along the rail. The foredeck anchor locker will accept a 13-pound Danforth and modest rode. Five windows and ports of four different shapes run along each cabin side, providing excellent light below but creating a somewhat busy aesthetic profile that divides opinion.
Known Issues and Structural Watch Points
Because the 29.5 is a short-run production boat from the mid-1990s, the population of examples is limited and long-term failure modes have not been comprehensively catalogued in the literature. One structural concern noted at time of review: the deck is balsa-cored, and leaks around the numerous windows and ports are an expected long-term problem. The non-standard window count and mixed shapes make replacement sourcing more complicated than on boats with standardized rectangular ports. The fibreglass keel-to-hull system is elegant in theory, but any grounding that damages the glass fin still requires skilled composite repair; the lead shoe absorbs impact, but the fin itself is not indestructible.
The Verdict
The Hunter 29.5 is an honest expression of a particular set of priorities: maximum interior volume and cockpit space on a modest waterline, with an innovative backstay-free rig that simplifies sail handling for short-handed crews. The keel and rudder engineering represent genuine ingenuity rather than cost-cutting. Where the boat makes sacrifices — storage, side-deck width, the fixed sheeting angle — those sacrifices are deliberate and disclosed. Buyers who approach it as a social weekender and entry-level coastal cruiser will find it delivers on every promise; those expecting offshore capability or the storage of a purpose-built bluewater boat will be disappointed.
Pros
- Integral fiberglass-and-lead keel construction eliminates the hull penetration of bolted external keels
- Backstay-free B&R rig simplifies sail handling and permits an aggressive high-roach mainsail
- Unusually large cockpit with integrated swim platform for a 30-foot boat
- Open, light-filled saloon with a genuinely useful double berth aft
- Lightweight fiberglass rudder shaft reduces aft-section mass
Cons
- Very limited stowage throughout, particularly with athwartships double berth eliminating cockpit lockers
- Narrow side decks with inboard chainplates make foredeck access awkward
- Mixed-shape, high-count windows are an aesthetic liability and a future leak risk
- Alcohol stove standard; no pressurized fuel system
- Tacking angles required downwind to keep sail off swept spreaders
