Design and Construction
Lars Olsen's late-seventies hull carries a length-to-beam ratio of 3.10 and a ballast ratio of 41 percent, the latter backed by 3,241 pounds of iron in a fin-keel configuration that draws roughly 5.25 to 5.55 feet depending on load. Aages Boatbuilders built the boat in fiberglass with a solid hull and deck, and the same design was also contracted to other yards; significantly, the L 29 was also offered as a home-completion kit, so finished-boat quality can vary from one example to the next home-completion means quality may vary. The wetted surface is about 258 square feet, and the immersion rate of 783 pounds per inch tells you she sits heavily for her length — consistent with a displacement around 7,500 pounds and a comfort-oriented rather than featherweight hull.
Rig and Handling
The L 29 is built with a fractional rig and, by the numbers, carries more sail plan than 54 percent of comparable sailboats, which suggests she is slightly overrigged for her size. With the ISO 8666 reference sail her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 16.0; hoist a 135 percent genoa and that climbs to 18.9, giving a meaningful light-air boost without stepping into full race trim. Under the Volvo Penta MD7 she makes 6.0 knots, just under her theoretical displacement-hull maximum of 6.6 knots. The DL-ratio of 243 places her among moderate racers, and the Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.7 to 22.9 indicates a settled ride in a seaway rather than a twitchy one.
Performance Profile
Her capsize screening value is 1.92, a figure that by that formula alone would admit her to ocean-passage consideration, while the Relative Speed Performance index stands at 58. Those indices, taken with the overrigged tendency and moderate displacement, sketch a boat that is quick for a cruiser yet fundamentally stable — not a featherweight planing hull but a predictable one.
Accommodations
Below, the L 29 is equipped with six berths, a galley, and a toilet facility, and the interior is finished in teak like most boats of her era. The arrangement supports a small crew or family coastal cruising without pretense, and the 9.4-foot beam gives reasonable room for a 29-footer without bloating the hull form.
The Verdict
The L 29 is a sensible late-seventies Danish cruiser-racer: moderate displacement, slightly overrigged, stable, and simply built in fiberglass with a teak interior. The home-completion history is the one real caveat for a buyer who wants uniformity.
Pros
- Stable, comfort-oriented hull with capsize screening of 1.92 and Motion Comfort Ratio near 23
- Slightly overrigged fractional sloop with good light-air potential via 135% genoa (SA/D 18.9)
- Solid fiberglass construction with iron fin keel and manageable 5.25–5.55 ft draft
Cons
- Home-completion option means per-boat quality can vary
- Modest 13 hp diesel limits motoring speed to 6.0 knots
- Fewer than 200 built, so finding a specific example may take patience
