BoatsContest 29

Contest 29

Masthead Sloop · Fin Keel · 1964–1976

A G. Luyten-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel, built for steady cruising between 1964 and 1976

Designed by G. Luyten, built by Coniplex.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin Keel

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 31 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 31
CoastalBluewater

At 1.62 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.62
LightHeavy

275 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 275
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 14.3
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Draws less than ~78% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2351 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.3
Displacement / length
274.5
Comfort ratio
31.0
Capsize screening
1.62
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
707
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1964–1976
Units built
247
Designer
G. Luyten
Builder
Coniplex, Contest Yachts - Conyplex

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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 family0.3 m longerA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop offering versatile interior configurations and a choice of standard or tall rigs
Islander Yachts 309.02 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA raised-deck masthead sloop with a shallow 1.12-metre draft, produced briefly as a distinct variant of the Islander 29
Cal 2-298.84 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn upgraded cruising variant of the standard 29, featuring enhanced equipment and a masthead rig
Islander Yachts Bahama 309.12 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1973-1985 production masthead sloop sharing its hull with the Islander 30 MKII and featuring a balanced fin keel
Pearson Yachts 309.08 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Bill Shaw-designed masthead sloop with over 1,000 hulls built, balancing a stiff 43% ballast ratio for coastal cruising
Seafarer Yachts 309.13 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA masthead sloop available with a tall rig and keel centerboard, distinct from the earlier Tripp-designed model

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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