BoatsNorthern 29

Northern 29

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1972

A Sparkman & Stephens IOR Half Tonner designed for competitive racing with a stiff, skeg-mounted rudder configuration

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

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

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

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.86
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 337
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.5
TenderStiff

52% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 52%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
51.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.5
Displacement / length
337.3
Comfort ratio
25.5
Capsize screening
1.86
Hull speed
6.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
683
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1972
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Northern Yachts Ltd

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.

Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class
Ericson Yachts 298.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a 1.32-meter draft and a 45% ballast ratio, balancing coastal stability with shoal access
Shannon Yachts 288.53 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA fin-keeled cutter with a transom-hung rudder, built for coastal cruising with a stiff 38% ballast ratio
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
Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising

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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