Yacht feature- Daysailer Morris 29
by Des Ryan on 21 Dec 2012
Morris 29 sailing two-up SW
In the class of daysailers there's one boat that consistently turns heads wherever she sails and the lucky owners testify to her pedigree performance. It's the American-produced keelboat, the Morris 29.
Like her larger sisters in the M-class line of daysailers and coastal cruisers, the boat combines lovely classic hull lines with a modern keel and spade rudder to give you a very special boat that will delight you, not only in the way she looks, but also the way she sails.
Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, the M29 is primarily a daysailer that can be handled easily by one person. The main and jib are self-tending. In fact, Morris has eliminated winches from the cockpit altogether. Control lines and sheets are run through blocks and tackles below decks, then through line stoppers, which leaves the decks uncluttered and sail trim as easy as possible. The powerful North mainsail and Hall Spars carbon mast are easily shaped via backstay, vang, cunningham, outhaul and mainsheet, and all at your fingertips! All control lines are run within easy grasp of the helmsman and even the single-line slab reefing allows you to safely and easily reef without taking a step outside the cockpit.
She is very responsive, simple and tiller steered for that back to basics thrill of small boat performance sailing you probably remember from your youth. Unlike a dinghy, however, she will keep you dry, safe and upright!
To make launching and retrieving a spinnaker simple, Cuyler Morris came up with what Morris calls the CKL system (Cuyler’s Kite Launcher). The asymmetrical spinnaker is hoisted from a small hatch at the bow with a halyard led to the cockpit. When you want to dowse the sail, a retrieving line attached to the kite hauls the sail back into the hatch where it self-stows for launching later. And you still never have to leave the cockpit.
The M29’s interior is simple but elegantly designed. Two six-foot, six-inch settee berths offer places to sit out of the sun or rain or stretch out for a nap while swinging on the hook. The head is between the settees and the engine is aft under the cockpit. .
The M29 is all about sailing and enjoying the ride. With her deep large cockpit the M29 is equally as safe and comfortable with one person onboard as with a crew of 3-4.
And if you want her to be, she can be trailerable.
With an 8’ beam and a total towing package weight of under 7,000lbs, the M29 is easily towed behind any full sized SUV/Truck giving you the freedom to take her wherever you want. Once at your destination, she can be quickly rigged by just 2 people allowing you to maximize your on-water fun.
Morris has long been known as a quality brand. This means that the M29 offers peace of mind that you are onboard one of the most seaworthy boats in the world.
Specifications:
LOA 29’2'
LWL 20’10'
Beam 7’4'
Draft 4’6'
Displacement 4,375 lbs.
Sail area 395 sq. ft.
For more information, visit www.morrisyachts.com.
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