The Sadler 29 Sailboat

The Sadler 29 was designed by David Sadler and built in the UK by Sadler Yachts Ltd. 

A Sadler 29 sailboat under sail in light airs'Zelda', a Sadler 29 Ghosts Along in Light Airs

Published Specification for the Sadler 29

Underwater Configuration: Fin with transom-hung rudder

Hull Material:  GRP (fibreglass)

Length Overall: 28' 5" / 8.66m

Waterline Length: 22' 10" / 6.96m

Beam: 9' 6" / 2.90m

Draft: 4' 11" / 1.50m

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop

Displacement: 8,200lb / 3,720kg

Designer: David Sadler

Builder: Sadler Yachts (UK)

Year First Built: 1981

Year Last Built: 1988

Number Built: 400

Owners Association: Sadler & Starlight Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Sadler 29

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.7

  • Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
  • 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
  • Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 41.5

  • Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
  • Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 308

  • Under 100: Ultralight
  • 100 to 200: Light
  • 200 to 275: Moderate
  • 275 to 350: Heavy
  • Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 25.8

  • Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
  • 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
  • 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
  • 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
  • Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

  • Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
  • Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

read more about these all-revealing numbers...

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Summary Analysis of Published Design Ratios for the Sadler 29

  1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 14.7 suggests that she'll need a stiff breeze to get her going. In any other conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing will be the way to go.
  2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 41.5 means that she'll stand up well to her canvas in a blow, enabling her to power through the waves.
  3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 308, tells us she's clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but will come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.
  4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 25.8 suggests that crew comfort in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness. 
  5. Her Capsize Screening Formula of 1.9 tells us that she would be a better choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making than one with a CS rating of more than 2.0. 

Other sailboats in the Sadler range include:

A Sadler 25 sailboat heads west out of Plymouth UK in light conditionsThe Sadler 25

A Sadler 26 sailboat moored in the River Yealm, Devon, UKThe Sadler 26

A Sadler 34 sailboat moored in the River Yealm, Devon, UKThe Sadler 34

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