BoatsBristol Yachts 29.9

Bristol Yachts 29.9

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1977–1986

A 1977-1986 masthead sloop featuring a tall rig option and a choice between fixed keel or keel-centerboard configurations

Designed by Halsey C. Herreshoff.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Bristol Yachts 29.9, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

1.98 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.98
LightHeavy

279 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 279
EasygoingPowered-up

14.9 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.9
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Draws less than ~78% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2491 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Bristol Yachts 29.9, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Bristol Yachts 29.9 is a Masthead Sloop designed by Halsey C. Herreshoff and built by Bristol Yachts, Inc. from 1977 to 1986. This 9.1-meter sailboat features a fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder and a displacement of 3923 kg, making it suitable for coastal or offshore sailing.5:34 Early models were equipped with a Universal Atomic 4 gas engine, with later versions featuring a 15 hp Yanmar or a 16 hp Universal diesel as standard by 1983.6:44 The Bristol 29.9 was available with either a fixed keel or a keel-centerboard option, and a tall rig was also offered. When considering a used Bristol 29.9, buyers should prioritize structural integrity, checking for water intrusion in cored decks, compromised keel-to-hull connections, and soft spots in the cabin sole.9:25 Engine health can be assessed through a compression test and oil analysis, as hour meters on older boats are often unreliable.4:09

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen for sale
1channel looked into buying
  • A specific Bristol 29.9 is presented as an example of a boat available for under $20,000

    from Practical Sailorseen January 20253:05

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.9
Displacement / length
279.3
Comfort ratio
23.6
Capsize screening
1.98
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
872
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1977–1986
Units built
216
Designer
Halsey C. Herreshoff
Builder
Bristol Yachts, Inc

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Tartan Marine 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop offering versatile interior configurations and a choice of standard or tall rigs
Islander Yachts 309.02 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA raised-deck masthead sloop with a shallow 1.12-metre draft, produced briefly as a distinct variant of the Islander 29
Cal Boats 309.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOffered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series
Islander Yachts Bahama 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1973-1985 production masthead sloop sharing its hull with the Islander 30 MKII and featuring a balanced fin keel
Seafarer Yachts 309.13 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop available with a tall rig and keel centerboard, distinct from the earlier Tripp-designed model
Pearson Yachts 309.08 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA prolific Bill Shaw design with over 1,000 built, this masthead sloop features a fin keel and spade rudder

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

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The fleet has more to say

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