Design and Construction
Weight management drove the M29's entire structure. The builder addressed it through carbon-epoxy construction with Kevlar, a Hall Spars carbon mast, and a carbon fiber deep spade rudder, producing a documented displacement around 4,375 pounds on a 29' 2" overall length with a 20' 10" waterline and a narrow 7' 4" beam. That 4:1 length-to-beam ratio and light displacement give the boat 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 pure performance hardware, and the composite layup keeps the towing package under 7,000 pounds so the boat trails behind any full-sized SUV or truck and can be rigged by just two people.
Rig and Handling
Sailing the M29 is deliberately uncluttered. A powerful North mainsail on the carbon mast is shaped through backstay, vang, cunningham, outhaul, and mainsheet, and all those controls plus the single-line slab reefing sit within easy reach of the tiller so a solo sailor can reef without leaving the cockpit. No winches are required; reduced sheet loads through clever engineering and a 2:1 main halyard purchase let the mainsail controls be worked by hand, while most lines run aft under the deck and emerge at the helm. A self-tacking jib on an endless-line furler carries a single sheet tensioned by a tackle, and a bespoke spinnaker launcher lets one person set and retrieve the A-sail from its fabric tube. Test sailors found the tiller fingertip-light and super-responsive without being twitchy, with just enough weather helm to confirm the deep spade rudder is generating lift; she heels until the keel bites, powers up, and tracks straight, and can spin in her own length.
Accommodations
Below, the M29 is elegant yet spare, built around the sailing experience rather than cruising. There is only the engine box, an enclosed toilet with holding tank whose use is reserved for true emergencies, and a pair of full-length berths, with ample stowage for personal belongings, provisions, and refreshments kept within easy reach from the cockpit. The cabin is a cool refuge from the midday sun and a place to nap at anchor, but the boat is otherwise devoid of systems beyond the diesel, instruments, and head. The real living space is the deep, large cockpit with port and starboard seats made for stretching out, safe and comfortable for one or a crew of three to four, and shaped to keep occupants dry.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of an M29 stays simple because the boat was designed that way. The Yanmar saildrive diesel—a 2YM15C unit making 14 hp at 3,600 rpm, or a 10-horse variant noted in period reviews—sips from an 8-gallon tank that easily outlasts a season, and Raymarine wind, speed, and depth instruments cover the only electronics. Because the hull fits inside a standard shipping container and trails home behind a truck, many owners load it up and take it home for the winter, avoiding yard storage and the systems upkeep that burdens larger cruisers.
The Verdict
The M29 succeeds as a gentleman's daysailer that mixes sporty performance with timeless style. It is a boat you sail singlehanded or with two or three crew, excelling in light wind through its sleek hull, fin keel, and light build, yet offering the peace of mind of a seaworthy Morris. The trade-off is an interior stripped to bare essentials and almost no cruising infrastructure.
Pros
- Carbon-epoxy and Kevlar construction keeps displacement low for lively, light-air performance
- Fully cockpit-led rig with no winches required makes singlehanding genuinely simple
- Deep, dry cockpit with stretch-out seating for up to four
- Trailerable under 7,000 pounds and container-sized for easy seasonal ownership
Cons
- Belowdecks limited to berths, a minimal head, and stowage—no cruising amenities
- 8-gallon fuel capacity and minimal systems suit day sailing, not passage work
