Equally successful as a family cruiser and round-the-cans racer, the 29’s snub bow and chopped-off transom make the most of available waterline length and hence speed potential. A knife-like bow helps her slice to windward, flared topsides provide plenty of reserve buoyancy and the narrow waterline beam makes her slippery in light airs. The keel is a deep blade with most of its ballast carried in a torpedoshaped bulb. The powerful 7/8 fractional rig rewards tweaking and tacks through 65°, but she is easily handled and stands up to her canvas well. Off the wind, she needs a chute or kite to get going. The cockpit is on the small side: comfortable for four, but a squeeze for more. No space is wasted down below: the foot of the large double berth in the aft cabin goes right to the transom. The main cabin is welcoming and cosy, featuring the
same semi-circular dinette arrangement as the earlier Dehler 28. The heads is large with good stowage, but the standard galley was rudimentary: just a small sink and an ungimballed two-burner hob.

LOA 8.75m (28ft 10in) LWL 7.85m (25ft 11in) beam 2.95m (9ft 10in) draught 1.6m (5ft 3in)
displacement 3,100kg (6,834lb). Price guide: £40,000 to £50,000. YM Test Report April 1999