Design and Construction
The Sadler 29 is easy to recognise from a distance, with its high bow, well-raked stem, pronounced sheer and transom-hung rudder. It was the first model in the Sadler range to receive a full interior moulding with closed-cell foam pumped into the space between the inner shell and outer hull.
The builder intended this arrangement to create a stiff structure, with wipe-clean lockers and improved thermal and acoustic insulation for a dry, quiet interior. Structurally, Sadler 29s have generally stood up better than many of their peers. The sources credit this in part to the use of clear, unpigmented gel coat below the waterline.
Fit-out standards improved over the production run, and later boats were appreciably better finished. The original one-piece moulding for the companionway steps was also replaced by more attractive and practical timber steps.
Rig, Keels and Handling
A typical Sadler 29 would have carried twin keels, a roller-reefing headsail and a fixed two-blade propeller. Buyers could also choose between deep- and shallow-fin versions. The deep fin draws 5ft 0in, the shallow fin 4ft 0in and the twin-keel version 3ft 8in.
The transom-hung rudder, mounted on a full-length skeg, allows the entire cockpit length to be used and provides good control in most conditions. It loses grip only when the boat is seriously hard-pressed, such as when a spinnaker is carried for too long.
Tacking a large No1 genoa around the babystay is never particularly quick. On the standard mainsail, the leech reefing pennants were led aft, while the luff cringles had to be hooked at the mast unless the optional all-lines-aft cockpit reefing system was chosen.
Test sailors found the 29 easy to sail, responsive and manoeuvrable. She tends to heel quickly but doesn’t put the toerail in the water, providing a useful cue for a novice. Under power, owners report that she is awkward in reverse, although one owner improved matters by replacing the two-blade propeller with a feathering three-blade.
Accommodation
Below decks, the Sadler 29 has a traditional British layout, including a secure quarter berth and a seagoing arrangement that remained fundamentally unchanged throughout production. The inner moulding forms the basis of the accommodation, so the interior inevitably has less timber than some. However, placing the saloon seating hard against the hull widens the cabin sole and creates a roomy feel.
There are six berths, though the open-plan arrangement leaves minimal stowage. Headroom is a full 6ft 0in.
The galley is small by modern standards but workable at sea. One often-criticised area became more usable when the aft coachroof bulkhead was raked. Even so, the sink sits so far beneath the bridgedeck that the cook ends up pressed against the lining.
The navigation area is a tight squeeze but adequate, with its seat at the forward end of the quarter berth. The hull’s fine run aft is apparent beneath the chart table, where the right foot angles away from the left.
Cockpit and Deck
The deep, protected sit-in cockpit is one of the Sadler 29’s most popular features. A full-depth locker sits beneath the port seat, while an unusual deep bin beneath the cockpit sole provides liferaft stowage. A harness strongpoint was added in the cockpit following the Fastnet storm of 1979.
Moving forward can be awkward because the side decks narrow where they meet the coamings. Stepping out beside the sprayhood frame provides reasonable footfall, but the deck farther aft is tight enough for a seaboot to jam between the coaming and toerail.
The stanchion bases sit in sockets in the toerail, which is moulded as part of the biscuit-tin hull-to-deck joint.
Known Issues
On hard-used boats, moisture can sometimes seep into the cavity between the two mouldings. The usual cure was to bore a few low drain holes through the inner shell.
The 20hp Bukh diesel has suffered from what was described as the congenital illness of all such engines: a fractured manifold elbow. The hatchboards also have no means of being locked in place if the boat inverts.
Verdict
The Sadler 29 is a tough, capable, sea-kindly and respectably quick family cruiser. Its foam-filled twin-skin construction delivered a quiet, dry cabin and enduring structural integrity, while the deep cockpit, versatile keel options and well-proven British layout make it a sensible small cruiser. Its drawbacks are modest stowage, a cramped galley and a handful of specific weaknesses.
Pros
- Foam-filled full interior moulding provides strength, insulation and a dry, quiet cabin
- Deep, protected cockpit with a liferaft bin and post-Fastnet harness strongpoint
- Well-balanced and manoeuvrable, with predictable heel that doesn’t bury the rail
- Choice of deep fin, shallow fin or twin keels to suit different cruising grounds
Cons
- Minimal stowage because of the open-plan saloon
- Cramped galley, awkwardly positioned beneath the bridgedeck
- 20hp Bukh diesel is prone to a fractured manifold elbow
- Hatchboards can’t be locked in place for an inversion
- Water can enter the space between the mouldings on hard-used boats
