1979 Dyer 29 Soft Top Sold Boat in Warren, RI US

Twist is an exceptionally clean and highly recommended Dyer 29. The boat has been professionally maintained and continually upgraded by the craftsmen at Dyer Boats for the past 10 years, where she's been stored inside each winter. Recent work includes a teak cockpit sole, new Awlgrip on the deck, mahogany galley countertop, teak steering wheel and fresh paint and new upholstery down below. The ultra-reliable Detroit diesel was fully reconditioned in 2011 and burns an economical 2.5 gallons per hour.Twist exudes elegance while retaining the simplicity of a down east classic.

Maintenance and upgrade records available to qualified buyers

BoatUS - Boat Reviews - Dyer 29

Dyer's builder has always attempted to accommodate owner & s specifications for interior modifications. They have also offered a long list of options for both the trunk cabin and bass boat models. For this reason, it would be rare to find two Dyer 29s that were identical.

Perhaps the most outstanding and consistent feature of all Dyer 29s is their huge cockpit that accounts for more than half the boat's overall length. The cockpit easily accommodates four fishermen or a half-dozen guests for an afternoon or evening harbor cruise. Of course, large cockpits come at the expense of cabin space. The standard cabin layout was essentially the same for all models although the trunk cabin model has standing headroom while the flush deck bass boat model provides minimal headroom. Forward are two 6' 6" V-berths and there is a small but efficient galley along the port side. Later models offer the privacy of an enclosed head in place of the dinette, in which case, meals are eaten in the cockpit.

I would be hard pressed to recommend the Dyer 29 as the ideal boat for extended cruising, however, if you are willing to sacrifice a few of the conveniences of home, weekend cruising and short vacations will be quite comfortable. Ideally the Dyer 29 is a two-person boat for overnight travel because there are only two permanent berths although, with all that cockpit space and a little ingenuity, she can provide sufficient accommodations for a small family.

More than 40 years of production and countless re-powers have resulted in numerous engine and transmission combinations in existing Dyer 29s, although all are single inboard installations.

As I said, the Dyer 29 is designed for comfort not speed. She particularly shines heading into a chop where her fine entry, high free board and rounded chine combine to produce a smooth ride in all but the most extreme conditions. The 29 can be a bit tricky to handle in a following sea in part because the fine entry that makes her superb in a chop acts against her in a following sea. Sharp attention to steering is necessary and this is where the extra horsepower will come in handy in gaining control. All things considered this is a great sea boat and it would be difficult to find a more comfortable riding boat in this size range.

What separates the Dyer 29 from every other vessel that was first built nearly 45 years ago is that you can still go to the manufacturer and buy a new one. The Dyer 29 story is clearly a long way from over and I, for one, hope they are around for at least another 40 years.

Naval architect Jack Hornor was the principal surveyor and designer for Marine Survey & Design, Co., based in Annapolis, MD. He was on the boards of the American Boat and Yacht Council, the National Association of Marine Surveyors, and the Society of Boat and Yacht Designers. He and his wife sailed their Catalina 42, Legacy, based on Maryland's Eastern Shore.