Design and Construction
Peterson’s late-1970s lines produced a hull with a beam of just over ten feet and a length-to-beam ratio of 2.88. Yacht-database comparisons rank these proportions as more spacious than 73% of similar designs.
The solid fiberglass hull carries 2,850 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast ratio of 41%—higher than half of comparable sailboats. Her capsize screening value is 2.14, which would exclude her from sanctioned ocean racing but also reflects a stiff, domesticated profile.
A displacement-length ratio of 278 confirms the US 29’s heavy-cruiser categorization. Her Motion Comfort Ratio is 19.8, a figure more forgiving than 31% of sister designs. Wetted surface is about 269 square feet, while an immersion rate of 799 pounds per inch means she sits heavily and responds slowly to changes in load.
Rig and Handling
The US 29 is a masthead sloop with a 395-square-foot sail plan and a 5.58-foot fin keel. Her standing and running gear follow period norms: jib and genoa sheets are specified at 29.5 feet and 3/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet at 73.7 feet, and the 3/8-inch spinnaker sheets at 64.9 feet.
The theoretical hull speed is 6.3 knots, with a calculated maximum near 4.8 knots, consistent with a displacement hull of this length and weight. The spade rudder and moderate draft allow access to most marinas. Depending on load, draft varies between 5.58 and 5.88 feet.
Accommodations and Systems
No detailed interior layout survives in the record. Even so, the broad beam and heavy-cruiser displacement suggest an emphasis on volume rather than performance.
Tankage is modest and typical of the period: 20 gallons of fresh water and 15 gallons of diesel, paired with a single 13-horsepower Volvo Penta MD7 inboard. Those capacities frame the US 29 as a weekender or coastal cruiser rather than a long-range liveaboard.
Verdict
The US 29 is a straightforward late-1970s Peterson cruiser-racer derivative, built by a volume yard. She combines a heavy-displacement hull, generous beam for her length, and conservative systems. She suits sailors who value stability and interior room over speed—and who’ll accept modest tankage and a capsize screening value outside ocean-race limits as the price of that composure.
Pros
- Beamier and more spacious than most comparable 29-foot designs
- High ballast ratio for a stiff, stable feel
- Solid fiberglass hull with lead ballast
Cons
- Heavy-cruiser classification and limited theoretical speed
- Capsize screening value excludes sanctioned ocean racing
- Small water and fuel capacities for extended cruising
