Design and Construction
The GK 29 carries a fin keel and transom-hung rudder beneath a solid fiberglass hull. At a length-to-beam ratio of 2.81 she is beamier than the typical racer-cruiser of her size, and reviewers computing that proportion found her roomier than 79% of all other designs. Her 6,000 lb displacement and 3,000 lb iron ballast give a 43% ballast ratio, higher than 66% of comparable sailboats, while a displacement-length ratio of 222 places her among "moderate racers" with 66% of similar designs rated heavier. A capsize screening value of 2.17 meant she would not be accepted to participate in ocean races, and her Motion Comfort Ratio of 18.5 left her more comfortable than only 27% of similar boats — a stiff, light, accommodation-efficient hull, not a soft-riding passage maker.
Rig and Handling
The boat is built with a masthead rig rather than the fractional layout her IOR lineage might suggest. Standing sail trim runs to a 22.1-foot mainsheet, 8.8-foot jib and genoa sheets, and 19.4-foot spinnaker sheets, all sized at 10 mm diameter. With a wetted surface of about 290 square feet and an immersion rate of 865 lbs per inch, she floats at a draft of roughly 5.7 to 6.0 feet depending on load, shallow enough for most marina entrances. Her theoretical displacement-hull speed is 6.6 knots.
Accommodations
Below, the GK 29 provides six berths with a galley and a toilet facility. The beamy hull that earns her the high spaciousness ranking is what makes that berth count usable rather than nominal, though the comfort-ratio figures show the trade was ride quality for volume.
Known Issues
None documented.
The Verdict
The GK 29 is a focused IOR half-ton design that trades offshore-race eligibility and motion comfort for beam-driven interior space and a high ballast ratio in a light, moderate-racer hull. She suits a sailor wanting half-tonner proportions with six-berth cruising accommodation.
Pros
- Beamy hull rated roomier than 79% of similar designs
- High 43% ballast ratio, above 66% of comparable boats
- Masthead rig with documented sheet specifications
Cons
- Capsize screening of 2.17 excludes ocean-race participation
- Comfort Ratio places her above only 27% of similar designs
