The De Antonio D29 sea trial: design matters more than size

Palma de Mallorca (Spain) – Size matters only so much. What matters most and determines the success or failure of a boat is the design, understood as the construction process and the management of space. And the De Antonio D29 project has proven to be a winning and convincing one. The smallest in the Spanish shipyard's range, created by combining the best features of its predecessor, the D28, in an 8-meter long hull packs everything needed for a relaxing day at the beach with family or friends. A hull that not only allows for beautiful rides on the waves (up to 50 knots), but is also forgiving and capable of adapting to even the most challenging sea conditions.

We saw for the first time De Antonio D29 world premiere at Boot Düsseldorf And now we've tested it at sea. At the bow, we find a lounge with a fold-down central table that transforms into a sundeck. An easy passage leads to the helm station, where the hardtop version offers a few extra handholds during a more hectic ride. The rear seat can be used as a backrest for standing steering or as a pilot's seat, depending on the backrest position and the intended use of the central table. Aft, amidships, is the large sundeck that covers the engine compartment, which can accommodate one or two outboards, for a maximum power output of up to 400 hp. This feature is the essence of De Antonio's DNA, which he has maintained from his first unit to his largest project, the 60-footer, which we'll see in the water at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September, powered by four Mercury V12s, each producing 600 hp.

Compared to the D28 (the last unit of which was delivered in November 2024), the D29 features optimized performance and a smarter design. Although the space is limited, you don't need to move the seat to access the sundeck or sofa. Below deck, there's a cabin for two, which doubles as a large storage compartment, as well as a sink and electric toilet.

"We've worked hard to reduce and properly distribute weight," says Marc De Antonio, owner of the shipyard, "and we've paid close attention to the hull design, with its stepped and V-shaped hull. With two or five people on board, the center of gravity always remains amidships. To achieve this result, we've included two submerged volumes at the stern (next to the outboard motors, ed.) that increase stabilization. The automatic Lenco electronic trim tabs help us during navigation. It's true: 50 knots is just a number. But there are few boats that can claim to reach that."

De Antonio boats are increasingly conquering the American market, so much so that they've forced an increase in production capacity at the Barcelona factory, which currently stands at around 300 units per year. "Last year we grew by about 25%," explains Marc De Antonio, "but this year we've lowered our growth expectations, partly because we need to understand what will happen in America with international politics."

During the first sea trials for the press, we had the opportunity to test the version with a single 400 hp Mercury V10 outboard engine and the one with two 200 hp Mercury V6 engines, which in optimal weather conditions reach a maximum speed of 48 knots at 6.400 rpm, with a consumption of 130 l/h and 51 knots at 5.700 rpm, with a consumption of 144 l/h. The cruising speed of 33 knots is reached at 4.500 rpm and 68 l/h for the single engine and at 4.000 rpm and 66 l/h for the twin, in both cases with a consumption of 2 l/Nm.

The data you find at the bottom of this article was provided by the shipyard and measured in calm sea conditions, with no wind, and three people on board. The Spanish trials did not allow us to test peak performance due to a 1,5-meter wave that later transformed into a cross-sea. This situation, however, allowed us to comfortably cruise at up to 35–38 knots, always maintaining a sense of safety and control. The hull seems to adapt to waves coming from various directions, and unless you decide to force the throttle unnecessarily, every wave landing is soft and pleasant, without any particularly violent impacts.

As they say in these cases, choosing between the single- or twin-engine version is a matter of feeling. Personally, in these weather conditions, I appreciated the single 400 hp outboard more, as I felt more confident and able to manage the power to get over the waves, avoiding getting bogged down. Power delivery is more gradual, but the hull seems to handle better. The twin 200 hp engines, on the other hand, are more responsive, offering more explosive acceleration but requiring frequent re-engagement to avoid excessive impact with the waves. We would have appreciated a few more handrails around the helm station, where there are three seats, but the ones we tested were the very first units, and the shipyard is already planning for future improvements.

In calm seas, it's certainly a pleasure to push the throttle all the way down, even for a novice. But even in rough seas, a day trip or a short cruise are still easy and enjoyable. This is thanks to a design that took the best of what owners appreciated about the D28 and improved it even further.

De Antonio D29 Technical Data Sheet

Length ft: 8,94 m
Hull length: 7,89 m
Beam: 3,02 m
Immersion: 0,55 m
Fuel tank: 380 l
Water tank: 88 l
Black water: 42 l
Maximum power: 400 hp (1 or 2 outboards)
Minimum power: 300 hp
Deadrise: 20°
Displacement without engines: 2.600 kg
Passengers: 10
Base price with 2 x Mercury V6 200 hp: €219.870 (VAT excluded)
Base price with 1 x Mercury V10 400 hp: €227.170 (VAT excluded)

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