US 29 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a US 29 means looking at a late-seventies Douglas Peterson (unauthorized) design built by US Yachts – Bayliner, a 29-foot fiberglass masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder. These are modest coastal cruisers with a Volvo Penta MD7 diesel, small tanks, and a beamy hull for the length — steady boats for sheltered-water and inshore use rather than offshore passage making.
Layouts on the Used Market
Used US 29s show the standard production configuration with the as-built fin-keel hull and the original 20-gallon water and 15-gallon fuel capacities carried in a single diesel setup. The 29.5-foot overall length and ten-foot beam give a roomy footprint for the size, and the 5.58 to 5.88 foot draft with load keeps her within most marina limits. No alternative interior plans or deck molds are known across the brokerage fleet, so buyers should plan around the as-delivered accommodations.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The inboard Volvo Penta MD7 diesel at 13 horsepower and the period correct 3/8-inch sheet diameters for jib, genoa, mainsheet, and spinnaker anchor are the only equipment certain on these boats. A buyer should treat any electronics, canvas, or rigging beyond that as individual-boat history, not fleet standard. The masthead sloop rig carries a 395-square-foot sail plan, and the solid fiberglass hull with 2,850 pounds of lead ballast defines the structure you are inspecting.
What to Inspect
Confirm the engine is the named Volvo Penta MD7 unit and that running rigging matches the 3/8-inch spec rather than worn or undersized replacements. Beyond that, check hull integrity and standard used-boat items with no model-specific flooding or structural concerns on record. The fin keel and spade rudder should be examined for groundings, and the 20-gallon water tank and 15-gallon fuel tank should be checked for leaks or previous repairs.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in Ireland. For a buyer, the practical steps are few but clear:
- Confirm the Volvo Penta MD7 diesel is installed and turns over.
- Check sheet diameters are 3/8 inch on jib, genoa, mainsheet, spinnaker.
- Verify fresh water capacity is 20 gallons and fuel is 15 gallons.
- Inspect hull for solid fiberglass with no undocumented modifications.
- Accept the 5.58–5.88 foot draft when planning marina access.