This fin-keel monohull measures 28.67 feet overall, 23.50 feet at the waterline, and 10 feet on the beam. She displaces 7,800 pounds and has a skeg-mounted rudder.
Design and Construction
C&C Design conceived the 29-3 as a purposeful coastal cruiser rather than a stripped-out racer. The fiberglass hull runs to a raked stem and a plumb transom. Her fin keel carries 3,000 pounds of ballast and draws 5.17 feet. An optional shoal keel reduces draft to 4.17 feet for thinner water, while a skeg-mounted rudder supports the stern.
The ballast-to-displacement ratio is 38.46 percent, and the displacement-length figure is 268.31. Together with a comfort number around 22, those figures describe a moderately loaded cruiser with steady-ish motion rather than a featherweight boat. Her calculated hull speed is 6.49 knots, the natural ceiling imposed by the 23.5-foot waterline.
Rig and Handling
The 29-3 has a masthead sloop Bermuda rig, with a mast height of 40 feet above the waterline and roughly 374 square feet of sail. The foretriangle measures 35 feet at the I height and 12.83 feet at the J base. The mainsail has a 30-foot luff and a 10-foot foot, for an area of 150 square feet; the jib or genoa measures 224 square feet.
That sail area on a 7,800-pound hull produces a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 15. It’s enough to keep the boat moving in a modest breeze without leaving a short-handed couple overcanvased. The standard 5.17-foot draft and skeg-mounted rudder provide predictable tracking, while the shoal keel trades some bite for greater gunkholing reach.
Accommodations
Below, the cabin offers 72 inches—6 feet—of headroom, allowing most adults to move around without ducking. The 10-foot beam and 28.67-foot overall length provide interior volume suited to a compact two- or three-person layout rather than a crowded racer conversion.
Fresh-water capacity is 24 U.S. gallons. That’s a modest cruising supply, better suited to weekends at anchor than long, self-supported passages.
Engine and Propulsion
The 29-3 came with a flexible range of propulsion options. A well-mounted outboard was original equipment, and the boat may have a Japanese Yanmar diesel rated at 8, 12, or 15 horsepower, or a 15-horsepower gasoline engine.
The cited Yanmar range of 8 to 15 horsepower gives buyers a quiet, slow-turning option at the low end and more push for a heavy-air marina exit at the top. The outboard well keeps the stern simple and, if the installation is sound, the cabin sole dry.
Verdict
The Lancer 29-3 is a C&C-designed cruiser with sensible proportions. Her 10-foot beam and 7,800-pound displacement make her roomy and stable for her length, while the optional shoal keel broadens the range of waters she can explore. The rig is straightforward to handle, and the propulsion choices allow an owner to balance budget against noise tolerance.
With 24 gallons of fresh water and a compact-cruiser brief, the boat is better suited to coastal sailing than bluewater ambitions.
Pros
- C&C Design cruiser pedigree and a stable 38 percent ballast ratio
- Optional 4.17-foot shoal keel as an alternative to the standard 5.17-foot fin
- Flexible propulsion choices: outboard well or 8–15 hp Yanmar diesel
- Full 72-inch cabin headroom and a 10-foot beam
Cons
- The 24-gallon fresh-water capacity limits range
- The 1982 renaming as the Lancer 30 complicates used-boat searches
- The gasoline-engine option is less suited to enclosed cruising
