Sparkman & Stephens drew the sleek hull and deck, giving the M29 a clear family resemblance to its larger cousins through its cabintop styling and cove stripe. Morris Yachts built it as a financially more approachable alternative to the M36 and M42 weekenders.
Design and Construction
Weight management drove the M29’s design. The builder addressed it with carbon-epoxy construction with Kevlar, a Hall Spars carbon mast, and a carbon-fiber deep spade rudder. Documented displacement is around 4,375 pounds, with an overall length of 29' 2", a waterline length of 20' 10", and a narrow 7' 4" beam.
That 4:1 length-to-beam ratio and light displacement give the M29 the good manners associated with narrow hulls, rather than the volume of a typical modern 30-foot cruiser. The foil keel and spade rudder are performance-oriented hardware, while the composite layup keeps the towing package under 7,000 pounds. The boat can be towed behind any full-sized SUV or truck and rigged by two people. It also fits inside a standard shipping container.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
Sailing the M29 is deliberately uncluttered. A powerful North mainsail on the carbon mast can be shaped with the backstay, vang, cunningham, outhaul, and mainsheet. Those controls, along with the single-line slab reefing, are within easy reach of the tiller, allowing a solo sailor to reef without leaving the cockpit.
No winches are required. Clever engineering reduces sheet loads, while a 2:1 purchase on the main halyard allows the mainsail controls to be worked by hand. Most lines run aft beneath the deck and emerge at the helm. The self-tacking jib uses an endless-line furler and a single sheet tensioned by a tackle. A bespoke spinnaker launcher lets one person set and retrieve the A-sail from its fabric tube.
Test sailors described the tiller as fingertip-light and super-responsive without being twitchy. There was just enough weather helm to confirm that the deep spade rudder was generating lift. The M29 heels until the keel bites, then powers up and tracks straight. It can also spin within its own length.
The boat excels in light air, helped by its sleek hull, fin keel, and light construction. It is intended to be sailed singlehanded or with two or three crew.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The M29’s main living space is its deep, large cockpit. Port and starboard seats provide room to stretch out, and the cockpit is shaped to keep its occupants dry. It is safe and comfortable for one person or a crew of three to four.
Below, the boat is elegant but spare, with the interior built around the sailing experience rather than cruising. It contains little beyond the engine box, a pair of full-length berths, and an enclosed toilet with a holding tank, whose use is reserved for true emergencies. There is ample stowage for personal belongings, provisions, and refreshments, all kept within easy reach of the cockpit.
The cabin offers a cool refuge from the midday sun and a place to nap at anchor. Otherwise, the M29 is largely free of systems beyond the diesel, instruments, and head.
Engine, Systems, and Ownership
The M29 was designed to keep ownership simple. Its Yanmar saildrive diesel is identified as a 2YM15C producing 14 hp at 3,600 rpm, although period reviews also noted a 10-horse variant. An 8-gallon fuel tank easily outlasts a season, and Raymarine wind, speed, and depth instruments make up the boat’s only electronics.
Because the hull fits inside a standard shipping container and the complete towing package stays under 7,000 pounds, many owners load the boat onto its trailer and take it home for the winter. That avoids yard storage and much of the systems upkeep that burdens larger cruisers.
The Verdict
The M29 succeeds as a gentleman’s daysailer, combining sporty performance with timeless styling. Its simple, cockpit-led rig supports singlehanded sailing, while the deep cockpit has enough room for two or three crew—and can seat as many as four comfortably. The narrow, lightweight hull is lively in light air, yet the boat offers the peace of mind of a seaworthy Morris.
The trade-off is an interior stripped to the bare essentials, with almost no cruising infrastructure. This is a boat for rewarding days on the water, not extended passage-making.
Pros
- Carbon-epoxy and Kevlar construction keeps displacement low for lively light-air performance
- Fully cockpit-led rig requires no winches, making singlehanding genuinely simple
- Deep, dry cockpit with stretch-out seating for up to four
- Towing package weighs under 7,000 pounds, and the hull is sized to fit a standard shipping container, simplifying seasonal ownership
Cons
- Belowdecks space is limited to berths, a minimal head, and stowage, with no cruising amenities
- An 8-gallon fuel tank and minimal systems suit daysailing rather than passage work
