This compact fixed-fin-keel monohull combines a 28.58-foot overall length and 22.50-foot waterline with a 9.25-foot beam. It displaces 6,200 pounds and carries 2,500 pounds of ballast. Cooper Enterprises ceased operations in 1990, and the Martin 29 is now out of production. However, it retains an active Half Ton Class club that continues to organize racing events.
Design and Construction
Cooper Enterprises built the Martin 29 predominantly in fibreglass with wood trim, with wood trim that gives the cabin some of the warmth of a more traditional interior. This construction kept the boat light enough for the racecourse while preserving its racer-cruiser character.
The 2,500 pounds of ballast amounts to a 40-percent ballast ratio against the boat’s 6,200-pound displacement, giving the Martin 29 a stiff platform for its length. The fixed fin keel draws 4.75 feet, with an internally mounted spade rudder aft of the fin. A raked stem completes a profile shaped for the International Offshore Rule Half Ton class rather than casual coastal cruising alone.
At 28.58 feet overall, with a 22.50-foot waterline and 9.25-foot beam, the Martin 29 sits at the compact end of the racer-cruiser spectrum while still carrying full keelboat appointments.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Martin 29 has a Bermuda-rigged masthead-sloop sail plan. Its foretriangle dimensions are 36.00 feet for I and 11.40 feet for J, producing a 205.20-square-foot jib or genoa. The mainsail has a 31.50-foot luff and a 9.50-foot foot, for an area of 149.63 square feet. Total sail area is 354.83 square feet.
The masthead-sloop layout and moderate sail area suit both club racing and short-handed passage-making within the Half Ton framework. The design’s hull speed is 6.36 knots, consistent with its 22.50-foot waterline and light 6,200-pound displacement.
Auxiliary power comes from a Swedish Volvo MD6A diesel producing 12 horsepower. It’s intended for docking and manoeuvring rather than sustained motoring, with a 12-U.S.-gallon fuel tank supporting that limited role.
Accommodations and Systems
Below deck, the 9.25-foot beam and wood trim give the Martin 29 the character of a period racer-cruiser rather than a later all-white production boat. Its recreational-keelboat designation reflects that dual role: racing around the buoys, then spending time at anchor.
Tankage is modest. The boat carries 24 U.S. gallons of fresh water and 12 U.S. gallons of fuel, capacities better suited to weekend racing and coastal hops than extended liveaboard use. Likewise, the Volvo MD6A’s 12-horsepower output reinforces that the Martin 29 is meant to make its pace under sail rather than engine.
The Verdict
The Martin 29 remains a purpose-built International Offshore Rule Half Ton racer-cruiser with a Don Martin pedigree. Its fibreglass construction, wood trim, 40-percent ballast ratio, and masthead-sloop rig make it a stiff, handy 29-footer. Limited fuel and water capacity clearly favour racing and shorter coastal trips over extended cruising.
Although Cooper Enterprises has been closed since 1990, an active Half Ton Class club keeps the design involved in racing. Spares and class knowledge now come through that community rather than a builder’s support line.
Pros
- Designed by Don Martin as a dedicated International Offshore Rule Half Ton racer-cruiser
- Stiff 40-percent ballast ratio, with 2,500 lb of ballast in a 6,200 lb boat
- Active Half Ton Class club still organizes racing events
- Masthead-sloop rig carries 354.83 sq ft of sail for lively performance
Cons
- Tankage of only 12 U.S. gallons of fuel and 24 U.S. gallons of water limits cruising range
- Out of production since Cooper Enterprises closed in 1990
- The 12 hp Volvo MD6A is auxiliary-only, not a platform for sustained motoring
