Hull Design and Stability
The 29's underwater form is the foundation of everything Island Packet built into this boat. A fixed long keel with a keel-mounted rudder provides the directional stability that long-distance sailors depend on, and the hull carries 4,800 lb of ballast against a displacement of 10,900 lb, yielding a ballast-to-displacement ratio that allows the boat to stand up well to her canvas in a blow and power through the waves. The capsize screening formula of 1.9 means the 29 falls within the safer category for ocean passage-making — a figure that matters in earnest offshore conditions. For shallow-water cruising, an optional centerboard version was also available; with the board retracted, draft drops to 3.42 ft, while extended it reaches 7.25 ft for improved windward performance. Construction throughout is fiberglass, finished below with teak and holly wood trim.
Rig and Handling
The standard cutter rig defines the 29's character. A bowsprit, mainsail, 125% genoa, and staysail give the crew meaningful options for reefing down progressively without touching the main — exactly the redundancy shorthanded offshore sailors want. Total sail area in cutter configuration is 491 sq ft, nearly identical to the optional masthead sloop rig at 494 sq ft, so the choice is more about sail-management philosophy than raw power. The spars are all aluminum, halyards are internally mounted with dedicated halyard winches, and roller furling on the jib is standard via Harken hardware. A boom vang with an integral preventer removes one more manual task from the offshore watchkeeper's list. The sail area-to-displacement ratio of 16.1 suggests the 29 will approach hull speed readily in the right conditions, though she rewards patience rather than aggression.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below decks, Island Packet managed to pack a surprising amount of genuine cruising infrastructure into a 29-foot hull. A forward V-berth cabin, a large quarter berth aft, a U-shaped galley, a head with shower, and a saloon with a fold-down table and settees that convert to berths account for the full layout. The galley is placed at the bottom of the companionway stairs on the starboard side and includes a gimballed two-burner LPG stove and a stainless steel sink with pressurized hot water. Ventilation is taken seriously: nine opening ports, five deck hatches, and two Dorade vents cycle air through what is a fairly beamy interior for the waterline length. Tankage reflects genuine passage-making intent — 23 US gallons of fuel and 45 US gallons of fresh water. As reviewer Richard Sherwood observed, sleeping, fuel, and water capacity are indicators of the cruising capability of the 29, as is the full keel.
Offshore Track Record
The most telling endorsement in the 29's record is operational rather than statistical. The designer himself noted that an Island Packet 29 sailed from North America to Ireland on the northern route, under bare poles, covering 150 nautical miles per day — a crossing that subjects hull, rig, and construction to genuine North Atlantic conditions. The displacement-to-length ratio of around 291 confirms the 29 is a heavy-displacement cruising boat that can be loaded down with cruising gear with little effect on her waterline, which is exactly what blue-water passage-making requires. Many owners have praised the boat's seakeeping abilities, roominess, and durability.
Known Problem Areas
The 29 is not without acknowledged weaknesses. Chain plates are a documented common problem, a concern that applies to any aging fiberglass cruiser but one that deserves early inspection on any candidate hull given the cutter rig's twin backstays and the load they impose. The long keel, while superb for tracking and offshore comfort, produces a boat that is not fast or agile, especially to windward — a real-world consequence of the displacement-to-length ratio that will frustrate sailors accustomed to lighter fin-keeled designs. The comfort ratio of 26.5 puts crew motion in a seaway closer to a coastal cruiser than a dedicated bluewater design, which is worth knowing for sailors prone to seasickness on longer passages.
Refit Priorities
Given a production run that has long since closed, any 29 on the market today is a mature vessel. Beyond the chain plate inspection already noted, the inboard diesel engine warrants scrutiny — servicing records, raw-water impeller history, and injector condition should be primary concerns. The Harken roller furling and the automatic winch reefing system are both mechanical systems that age with use; functional testing of both is essential before any purchase. The interior wood trim, while attractive, is a moisture-collection point in an older hull, and the nine opening ports and five hatches should be examined for seal integrity. Upgrading electronics to current standards — the boat left the factory before chartplotters were standard — is almost certain to be a first-season task for any new owner.
The Verdict
The Island Packet 29 is a genuinely purposeful small cruiser, not a coastal day-sailer with offshore pretensions. Its long keel, serious ballast ratio, ample tankage, and cutter rig make it capable of passage-making that most boats its size would decline, and the North Atlantic crossing on record proves the point. The trade-off is exactly what you would expect: she is heavy, slow to windward, and demands patience from sailors accustomed to lighter modern designs. For the buyer seeking a compact, seaworthy cruiser to short-hand in open water, the 29 offers far more genuine offshore character than its length would suggest.
Pros
- Long keel with keel-mounted rudder delivers strong directional stability offshore
- Cutter rig with bowsprit, staysail, and roller-furled genoa for flexible sail management
- Capsize screening formula below 2.0 supports blue-water use
- Ample tankage (23 gal fuel, 45 gal water) for genuine passages
- Centerboard option opens shallow anchorages without sacrificing offshore ballast
- Documented North Atlantic passage-making capability
Cons
- Chain plates are a known recurring maintenance concern
- Heavy displacement makes her slow and unagile to windward
- Comfort ratio of 26.5 is modest for an offshore cruiser's motion in a seaway
- Low production numbers limit parts-compatibility and the community of experience
- All examples are now decades old, requiring thorough mechanical and structural due diligence
