Design and Construction
Weight management was a stated top priority addressed by carbon epoxy construction, a carbon mast, and rudder, with the builder's specification sheet also naming Kevlar in the composite layup. The hull carries a modern fin keel and a carbon fiber deep spade rudder, and the deck is described as clean and unencumbered by the clutter of deck hardware, with translucent varnish over teak trim producing what one editor called a certified head turner. The M29 maintains the classic lines of its Sparkman & Stephens-designed, Morris-built cousins while keeping a total towing package under 7,000 lbs and a beam of 8 feet in the builder's round figure, easily towed behind any full sized SUV or truck and designed to fit into a standard shipping container so the elegant daysailer will know no borders. Hull #1 was completed and launched in the frigid depths of a Maine winter.
Rig and Handling
The M29 is tiller steered, responsive, simple, and fingertip-light at the helm without being twitchy, with just enough weather helm to indicate the deep spade rudder is providing lift. She heels until the keel bites, powers up, and tracks straight and true, and will spin in her own length. The powerful North mainsail and Hall Spars carbon mast are shaped via backstay, vang, cunningham, outhaul, and mainsheet, all easily worked by hand, and all control lines are run within easy grasp of the helmsman, with most lines led aft under the deck and all sailing functions emerging from belowdeck leads to the tiller helm station. No winches are required; the self-tacking jib's single sheet is tensioned by a tackle, as is the spinnaker halyard, and a bespoke spinnaker launcher lets the A-sail reside in a long fabric tube set and retrieved singlehanded. A 2:1 purchase on the main halyard and single-line slab reefing allow safe reefing without leaving the cockpit. She excels in light winds due to her sleek hull shape, modern fin keel, carbon fiber deep spade rudder, and light weight construction, and exceeds performance expectations on all points of sail.
Accommodations
Below, the M29 offers elegant yet spare accommodations — a delightful cabin for escaping the midday sun and napping while on anchor, with personal belongings, provisions, and refreshments stowed within easy reach from the cockpit. One editorial account lists only the engine box, the enclosed toilet, and a couple of bunks, while another describes the interior as small and simple but offering a head, full-length berths, and ample stowage, with a toilet/holding tank combo whose use will likely be restricted to true emergencies. The boat is entirely devoid of systems apart from the diesel, instruments, and that toilet. The deep large cockpit is safe and comfortable with one person or a crew of 3–4, keeps occupants dry, and provides port and starboard seats for stretching out; the same cockpit is described by a reviewer as long and comfortable and by another as spacious enough for a large group. This is a boat about the sailing experience, not the cruising experience.
Known Issues
The documentation records no structural defects, flooding paths, or systemic failures for the M29. The only cautions implied by the sources are intrinsic to the concept: the interior is minimal, the toilet is emergency-only, and the boat carries no cruising systems beyond diesel, instruments, and head. There is no documented drainage or reinforcement concern to flag.
Refits and Ownership
The M29 can be rigged by just two people and is easy to load onto a trailer and take home for the winter, with a Yanmar saildrive unit documented at 14 hp by the builder and 10 hp by one reviewer (sources differ), the 8-gallon fuel tank should easily outlast the season. She motors as handily as it sails. As with all Morris Yachts, the builder states the M29 offers peace of mind that you are onboard one of the most seaworthy boats in the world.
The Verdict
The Morris M29 is a purpose-built daysailer that distills a respected Morris–Sparkman & Stephens lineage into a narrow, light, trailerable hull with carbon-epoxy construction and a winchless, hand-worked rig tuned for singlehanded ease. She is not a cruiser, and buyers wanting systems or interior volume should look elsewhere; what she delivers is uncomplicated, responsive sailing with head-turning styling.
Pros
- Singlehanded or small-crew sailing with all controls at the helmsman and no winches required
- Light displacement, narrow 4:1 beam, and carbon spade rudder yield light-air excellence and fingertip helm
- Trailerable under 7,000 lbs, container-fit, and riggable by two people
- Clean deck, clutter-free cockpit, and timeless Morris styling
Cons
- Minimal belowdecks: emergency-only head, no cruising systems
- Conflicting documented engine figures (10 vs 14 hp) across sources
- Pure daysailer — no provision for extended living aboard
