BoatsEricson Yachts 29

Ericson Yachts 29

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1970–1978

A 1970s masthead sloop with a 1.32-meter draft and a 45% ballast ratio, balancing coastal stability with shoal access

Designed by Bruce King.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Ericson Yachts 29, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Solé

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 28 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 28
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.82
LightHeavy

356 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 356
EasygoingPowered-up

15.7 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.7
TenderStiff

46% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 46%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Ericson Yachts 29, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Ericson Yachts 29 is a masthead sloop designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts from 1970 to 1978, featuring a fin keel with a spade rudder. It measures 8.7 meters LOA, with a 2.8-meter beam, 1.3-meter draft, and displaces 3855 kg. The model has a reported sail area of 395.27 square feet with a 100% foretriangle. A tall rig variant was also produced. An Ericson Yachts 29 appeared at the 2026 Long Beach Marine Bureau Boat Auction, where it stalled and received no bids, indicating potential condition issues or lack of bidder interest in that specific vessel.35:32

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Ericson Yachts 29 on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
45.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.7
Displacement / length
356.4
Comfort ratio
28.3
Capsize screening
1.82
Hull speed
6.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
727
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1970–1978
Designer
Bruce King
Builder
Ericson Yachts

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.

Islander Yachts 309.02 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA raised-deck masthead sloop with a shallow 1.12-metre draft, produced briefly as a distinct variant of the Islander 29
FALL BOAT AUCTION 2023: Where to buy a SUPER CHEAP sailboat! - EP316:35from Sailing Solé
Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class
From plastic to WORK OF ART 🔥 Dufour Arpege door restoration (BEFORE vs AFTER)0:23from NAUTICPIOLI
Cal Boats 309.14 mSame hull family0.4 m longerOffered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series
Left a multinational, house, and car to live on a 30-foot sailboat | #SAL Clip #1451:32from Hashtag Sal
Catalina Yachts 309.12 mSame hull family0.4 m longerWith over 6,000 hulls produced, this versatile masthead sloop remains one of the most successful production yachts ever built
Perfect $20,000 Sailboat (Catalina 30 Refit on a Budget) - Ep 358 - Lady K Sailingfrom Lady K Sailing
Seafarer Yachts 309.13 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA masthead sloop available with a tall rig and keel centerboard, distinct from the earlier Tripp-designed model
Sailboats at Every Budget: What You Get for $10K, $100K, $500K & $1M3:57from The Sailing Doodles Podcast
C&C Yachts 30-29.12 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA performance-oriented masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by C&C for balanced club racing
Ep. 33 Interview with Richard1:11from Sailing Into Oblivion

The family

Boats like this

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

Ericson Yachts 30-1A 1967-1971 production masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, offering a balanced 1.47-metre draftEricson Yachts 25A 1973-1978 masthead sloop with a transom-hung rudder and a 1.16-meter draft for versatile coastal explorationEricson Yachts 39A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offered in multiple cabin and rig configurationsEricson Yachts 30+A Bruce King-designed fractional sloop and updated successor to the 30-2, built for performance with a fin keel.Ericson Yachts 28+A Bruce King-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a stiff fin keel and spade rudder configurationEricson Yachts 27A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with over 1,200 built, offering a stiff, stable platform for coastal cruising

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