Design and Construction
The Sadler 29 is easy to pick out from a distance thanks to 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 void between that inner shell and the outer hull. The builder’s intent was a stiff structure with wipe-clean lockers and better thermal and acoustic insulation for a dry, quiet interior. Structurally the 29s have generally stood up better than many of their peers, a result the sources credit in part to the use of clear, unpigmented gel coat below the waterline. Standards of fit-out improved as the production run went on, later boats being appreciably better finished, and the original one-piece companionway step moulding was later replaced with prettier and more practical timber steps.
Rig and Handling
A typical example would have carried twin keels, a roller-reefing headsail and a fixed two-blade propeller, but the design came with a choice not only of fin or twin keels but of deep or shallow fin as well. The deep fin draws 5ft 0in, the shallow fin 4ft 0in and the twin-keel version 3ft 8in. The transom-hung rudder on its full-length skeg lets the whole cockpit length be used and gives good control in most conditions, only losing grip when seriously hard-pressed, such as carrying a spinnaker too long. Tacking a large No1 genoa around a babystay is never particularly quick, and the standard mainsail had leech reefing pennants led aft while luff cringles needed hooking at the mast unless the optional all-lines-aft cockpit reefing was chosen. Test sailors found her easy to sail, responsive and manoeuvrable, tending to heel quickly but never putting the toerail in the water — a useful cue for a novice. Under power, owners report she is awkward in reverse, though one owner improved matters by swapping the two-blade prop for a feathering three-blade.
Accommodations
Down below, the Sadler 29 used the traditional British layout with 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 is inevitably less woody than some, yet saloon seating set hard against the hull successfully widened the cabin sole for a roomy feel. Six berths were provided, though stowage is minimal as a consequence of the open-plan thinking. The galley is small by modern standards but workable at sea, and one oft-criticised area was made more usable when the aft coachroof bulkhead was raked; even so, the sink sits so far under the bridgedeck that a cook ends up pressed against the lining. Headroom is a full 6ft 0in. The navigation area is a tight squeeze but adequate, with a seat at the front of the quarter berth, and the fine run aft is noticeable where the right foot angles away from the left under the chart table.
Cockpit and Deck
The deep, protected sit-in cockpit is one of the 29’s most popular features, with a full-depth locker beneath the port seat and an unusual deep bin for liferaft stowage beneath the cockpit sole. A harness strongpoint was added in the cockpit following the Fastnet storm of 1979. Going forward can be a little awkward because the side decks narrow where they meet the coamings, though leaving by the sprayhood frame gives reasonable footfall; the deck aft is tight, and a seaboot can jam between coaming and toerail. Stanchion bases sit in sockets in the toerail, which is moulded as part of the biscuit-tin hull-to-deck joint.
Known Issues
Hard-used boats sometimes let moisture seep into the cavity between the mouldings, and the common cure was to bore a few low drain holes through the inner shell. The 20hp Bukh diesel has suffered from the congenital illness of all such engines — a fractured manifold elbow. The hatchboards have no means of being locked in place should the boat invert.
The Verdict
The Sadler 29 is a tough, capable, sea-kindly and respectably quick family cruiser whose foam-filled twin-skin construction delivered a quiet, dry cabin and enduring structural integrity. Its deep cockpit, versatile keel options and well-proven British layout make it a sensible small cruiser, let down only by modest stowage, a cramped galley and a few specific weaknesses.
Pros
- Foam-filled full interior moulding for strength, insulation and dry quiet cabin
- Deep, protected cockpit with liferaft bin and post-Fastnet harness point
- Well-balanced, manoeuvrable, heels predictably without burying the rail
- Choice of deep/shallow fin or twin keels to suit cruising grounds
Cons
- Minimal stowage from open-plan saloon
- Galley cramped and awkward under the bridgedeck
- Bukh 20hp prone to fractured manifold elbow
- Hatchboards not locked for inversion; water can enter between mouldings in hard use
