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1 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat cruising on open water under clear blue skies. -
2 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat cruising on calm waters with sails unfurled. -
3 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat on calm water with city skyline in background. -
4 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat on calm waters with scenic coastal background. -
5 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat docked in marina, featuring blue sail cover and white hull. -
6 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat navigating open waters under clear skies. -
7 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat docked at marina with blue sail cover. -
8 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat docked at marina, surrounded by other boats under cloudy sky. -
9 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat cockpit with steering wheel and compass. -
10 / 31 — Polished wooden cabinetry on a 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat interior. -
11 / 31 — Polished wooden detail on 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat under clear blue sky. -
12 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 yacht interior with wooden table, red seating, and coastal map. -
13 / 31 — Interior of 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat with wood finish, red seating, and compact kitchen. -
14 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 yacht interior with navigation equipment on wooden table. -
15 / 31 — Red cushioned seating in 1981 Bristol 29.9 boat interior with wooden paneling. -
16 / 31 — Red cushioned seating in a 1981 Bristol 29.9 boat interior with wooden paneling. -
17 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 interior with red cushion and mounted fire extinguisher. -
18 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 yacht kitchen with wooden cabinetry, sink, and stove. -
19 / 31 — Interior cabin of a 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat with red cushions. -
20 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 yacht bathroom with sink, toilet, and wooden cabinetry. -
21 / 31 — Stainless steel two-burner stove in a 1981 Bristol 29.9 boat galley. -
22 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 stove with dual burners and oven in wooden cabinetry. -
23 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 yacht kitchen sink with faucet, wooden countertop, and red cushion. -
24 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 sink with wooden trim, dual compartments, and black countertop. -
25 / 31 — Control panel of a 1981 Bristol 29.9 boat with switches and gauges. -
26 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 interior with stereo system and fire extinguisher. -
27 / 31 — Vintage marine depth finder on a 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat, mounted in a wooden frame. -
28 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 engine close-up, showcasing mechanical components and hoses. -
29 / 31 — Blueprint of 1981 Bristol 29.9 sailboat, showing side view and interior layout plans. -
30 / 31 — Bristol 29.9 yacht advertisement highlighting quality design and construction, featuring a sailing image. -
31 / 31 — 1981 Bristol 29.9 interior brochure showcasing cabin features and standard equipment list.
Rubicon Yachts / Yachts for Sale / DILEMMA
DILEMMA
30' 1981 Bristol 29.9
$29,000.00
Last Updated: 2026-11-12
RIFF RAFT is a beautiful example of the iconic Bristol 29.9, originally designed for racing and beloved for its cruising and performance. The hull is constructed of solid, hand-laid fiberglass and the hull and deck are joined with an inward flange resulting in a strong and tight connection. A large rudder provides a responsive helm and the skeg forward of the rudder offers protection for the propeller and good directional control. Design features produce a well-mannered vessel in terms of speed and performance that can also stand up to heavy air. In its ten-year production run of 29.9s, Bristol Yachts produced 216 examples--quite a testament to the build quality and design.
The Bristol 29.9 remains a popular choice for sailors looking for traditional quality and construction. The exceptional spaciousness of this thirty-footer results from her long waterline, excellent utilization of interior space, her ample beam and over six feet of headroom. The 29.9 is a great boat for day sailing, overnighting or extended cruising.
RIFF RAFT has been well-maintained and updated. Her survey from 2025 is available for reference. Powered in with a 20 hp Yanmar. Bottom paint done in 2023. Her exterior teak was completely redone in 2025. The interior is clean and bright with cushions, and cabin sole in good condition. This is a classic Herreshoff-designed vessel that has benefited from knowledgeable and attentive owners. Striking at rest and even more so under sail, if you are considering a traditional yacht in good condition, RIFF RAFT should be on your short list to see now.
Make: Bristol
Model: 29.9
Year: 1981
Length: 30ft
Name: DILEMMA
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Engine/Fuel Type:
Located In: San Francisco, CA
- Category: Sail
- Class: Cruisers
- Keel: Fin Keel
- Designer: Herreshoff
- Builder: Bristol Yachts
- Beam: 10.17 feet
- Bridge Clearance:
- Min Draft:
- Max Draft: 4.33 feet
- Cabin Headroom: feet
- DryWeight: pounds
- Ballast: pounds
- CruisingSpeed: knots
- Total Engines: 0
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 18 gallon
- Fuel Tank Count: 1
- Water Tank Capacity: 63 gallon
- Water Tank Count: 1
Additional Descriptions
Accommodations
The Bristol 29.9 "Plan 1" layout has a V-berth forward followed by an athwartship head, opposing settees in the main salon, nav desk and quarter berth aft to port and galley aft to starboard. The port settee converts to a double berth and there is a fold-down dining table on the forward bulkhead. The interior is white fiberglass with wood mahogany trim and teak and holly cabin sole. Head room is six feet plus and there is good light and ventilation with two opening hatches (salon and forward cabin), and ten cabin ports. Cushions and curtains in excellent condition Brass reading lights throughout Brass, goose-neck lamp at nav deskInterior handrails
Galley
- Large stainless steel sink & faucet
- Hot & Cold pressure water
- Icebox
- 2-burner CNG stove
- Select galleyware will transfer w/vessel
Head
- GROCO Model K marine toilet
- Stainless steel sink & shower-head faucet
- FORMICA counter
- Teak-framed mirror
- Venting portlight
- Good storage
Hull and Deck
- New lifelines
- New Mast wiring
- FULL boat cover
- Hand-laid fiberglass hull w/cored decks
- Lead fin fixed keel
- Skeg-mounted Rudder
- Bottom painted (2023)
- Stainless steel bow pulpit and stern rail
- Double lifelines with gates port & starboard
- Bow roller with CQR Anchor
- Teak toe rail
- Teak handrails on coachroof
- Stainless steel folding swim ladder with teak treads
Cockpit
- Teak companionway drop boards
- Teak Combing boards
- Dodger with new windows
- EDSON Pedestal with 30" Stainless steel wheel
- RITCHIE Binnacle compass w/cover
- Emergency Tiller
- Emergency bilge pump
- Cockpit table & drink holder
Sails and rigging
- Masthead Sloop Rig
- NEW Standing Rigging 2013
- Main Sail
- HARKEN Roller furler
- (2) 100% Jibs
- Winches
- (2) LEWMAR 25 Primaries self-tailing, 2-speed
- (1) LEWMAR 8 Cabin top
- (1) LEWMAR 8 on mast
- Traveler mounted on coachroof
- 10' Genoa track mounted on toe rails
Engine and mechanical
- YANMAR 3GM20
- 3-blade fixed 10" prop
Electronics
- Garmin Map 440 Chart Plotter
- Speed, depth instruments
- FURUNO Radar
- STANDARD HORIZON INTREPID VHF
- VHF antenna
- RITCHIE Binnacle Compass w/cover
- GARMIN GPS
Electrical
- 2 x Group 24 12V House batteries
- 1 x Group 27 12V engine start battery
- Battery charger Newmar PH 25 smart charger
- 30 Amp Shore power service to the 110V panel
Maintenance History
- 7/2011
- Cutlass bearing replaced
- 8/2011
- Tachometer replaced
- 12/2011
- New transmission/cone clutch
- realign shaft
- 3/2012
- Mainmast track for pole
- new mainsheet
- 11/2013
- Five through-hulls replaced with ball valves
- New 7/32 standing rigging
- New mast step
- New Harken Unit 1 furler
- New mast wiring and LED lights
- 6/2017
- Replaced depth sounder
- 11/2017
- Lifelines replaced
- New jib sheets
- 11/2020
- Replaced dodger window panels
- 12/2020
- House batteries replaced
- 1/2021
- Starter battery replaced
- 3/2021
- Starter replaced4/2021
- All central heavy wiring including battery and charging cables replaced and fusing upgraded.
- New exhaust hoses
- 1/2022
- Bilge pump replaced
- 6/2023
- Hauled and bottom painted
- Impeller replaced
- 7/2025
- Haul out; bottom cleaned
- 9/2025
- Exterior teak sanded down to bare wood
- Cap rails left as bare wood
- All other exterior teak surfaces were treated to 10 coats of varnish
- 5/2026
- Engine service
- New bilge pump
- New raw water pump
Disclaimer
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
Bill Adams
Yacht & Ship Sales
bill@rubiconyachts.com
415-425-5099 - mobile
510-601-5010 – office
3300 Powell St., Ste 105
Emeryville, CA 94608