Design and Construction
Finot's layout for the Yamaha 29 centers on a center-cockpit arrangement, an unusual choice in a boat of this length that trades aft-cockpit simplicity for protected helm access and a divided belowdecks plan. The hull is a solid fiberglass monohull with a fin keel, and the deck is solid fiberglass as well. The 22-foot-6-inch waterline frames the moderate displacement and moderate draft the design shows.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig spans a 34-foot-8-inch foretriangle hoist with an 11-foot-2-inch base, and a 29-foot-3-inch mainsail luff over an 11-foot-10-inch foot. Those dimensions, paired with the moderate draft and moderate displacement, support the period assessment that the Yamaha 29 is a relatively good performer in most conditions. The fin keel combination typically gives predictable steering for a boat of this size.
Accommodations
Below, the center-cockpit configuration shapes the living space around the helm position rather than a traditional aft cockpit. The 10-foot beam provides the transverse room one expects in a Finot coastal design of this era. The cockpit location itself and the moderate displacement envelope frame the accommodation volume.
The Verdict
The Yamaha 29 is a modest-production Finot design built by Yamaha in 1975, with only 55 recorded, that delivers a center-cockpit layout in a sub-30-foot masthead sloop. She is a capable coastal cruiser with moderate draft and displacement, solid fiberglass construction, and a sensible ballast ratio for her size.
Pros
- Center-cockpit layout in a compact 29-foot hull
- Groupe Finot design with masthead sloop rig
- Moderate displacement and draft for manageable handling
- Relatively good performer in most conditions
Cons
- Only 55 built, limiting the used fleet
- No interior, tankage, or engine-model detail recorded
