De Antonio D29 Review, Specs and Which Engine to Choose

The D29 replaces the D28 with a new hull, not a facelift

If you have searched for a d29 boat, this is the one people mean: the De Antonio D29, the smallest monohull from the Barcelona builder and the boat that took over from the D28 in 2025. De Antonio says it builds on one of its most iconic models, but Motor Boat & Yachting's first look in May 2025 made the important point that it is an entirely new boat, not a reworked D28. The old D28 is no longer built.

What changed is underneath. The D29 has a twin-stepped hull with a finer entry, a slightly flatter planing surface and more beam than its predecessor. The goal, according to De Antonio, was more efficiency, a softer ride and better control of trim, because the older boats tended to run very flat with the nose down. What stayed is the formula that made De Antonio famous: a plumb bow, vertical topsides, a single outboard hidden in a cushion-topped box, and an aft platform that runs the full width of the stern.

The name rounds up. The hull is a shade over 26 feet; the extended platform brings it toward 28 feet, and the bow anchor fitting adds the rest. The builder lists 27 feet 10 inches overall and 26 feet 2 inches of hull. With a 9-foot 10-inch beam, about 38 percent of the length, the boat is fat for its size, and that is where its space comes from.

Single Verado or twin 200s: the engine decision

De Antonio offers four packages. A single 300 hp Verado V8 is standard, with a single 350 or 400 hp Verado V10 as upgrades, all with electronic steering. The fourth option is a pair of 200 hp Mercury FourStroke V6s. The builder quotes a 27-knot cruise and up to 50 knots depending on load and engine.

Motor Boat & Yachting tested the single 400 in 3 to 4 foot seas and still reached 46 knots by working the troughs on a beam sea; De Antonio expects about 48 in calm water. Fuel use was good for a boat this quick: 1.7 to 2.0 liters per nautical mile from 20 to 30 knots, which works out to roughly 12 gph at 25 knots and a range of 160 to 190 nautical miles, rising to 2.8 liters per mile flat out for about 115 miles. The tester's advice was to consider the twin 200s instead, for extra grip, stability and redundancy, and De Antonio's early testing suggested they could reach about 50 knots.

Our view: the single 300 suits lakes and protected bays, the single 400 is the sports car, and twin 200s are the choice for anyone running offshore to islands or fishing grounds, where a second engine is cheap insurance.

• Standard: 1 x Verado V8 300 hp, low 40s top speed per MBY
• Option: 1 x Verado V10 350 hp or 400 hp
• Option: 2 x Mercury FourStroke V6 200 hp, about 50 knots per early builder testing
• Tested: 46 knots in 3 to 4 foot seas on the single 400
• Fuel tank: 95 gallons (360 liters)

Driving it: turn the auto tabs off

The most interesting finding in Motor Boat & Yachting's sea trial was about trim. With the automatic tabs active, the system kept the nose low and the boat flat in every direction, which is the De Antonio signature. With the tabs off and the leg trimmed by hand, the D29 lifted its bow, moved its wetted area aft, ran drier and softer over chop, used less fuel and gained about three knots at the top. The tester said it changed from a blunt instrument into an agile, fun boat.

Two cautions came with that. Drop the bow too low and the D29 gets wet, as you would expect from steep sides, a fine entry and little flare. And the helm ergonomics are the boat's weakest point. There are no dedicated helm seats; the skipper sits on the forward bench of the dinette with the backrest flipped, or leans against it. Seated, the position is too low and too far aft; standing, the hinged backrest moves when you lean on it. A lifting seat and a backrest latch would fix it.

A big bow lounge and a sunbed over the engine

The deck splits in two. Forward is a deep, safe bow lounge for five to seven people that Motor Boat & Yachting compared with the much-loved bow of the old Fjord 38 Open. Aft is a dinette backing onto the raised sunbed over the outboard, which links to the swim platform. With infills, the aft area takes six or more on cushions.

The details are what make it look expensive: sunken cleats with stainless strips to protect the gelcoat, rectangular fenders that drop into recesses in the gunwales to keep walkways clear, carbon and steel trim at the helm and diamond-stitched upholstery. De Antonio offers the D29 with a hardtop (with a soft sunroof) or a soft top, plus fore and aft shades. A fridge can be built into the forward bench.

Expect to use the options list. Rubbing strakes, bow thruster, trim tabs, fridge, fenders and lines, VHF and audio, a bow table, transom gates and a towing ring are all extras, which is how the 400 hp test boat climbed from 165,000 to about 227,000 euros before tax.

The cabin is a changing room that sleeps two

De Antonio's copy promises a surprisingly spacious cabin with a double bed and a full bathroom. The test boat was more modest. A new two-part door, lifting at the top and sliding at the bottom, makes entry easy, and there is around 6 feet of headroom at the entrance with light from an angled window at the front of the console. A sink sits to port and an optional toilet hides under the lid of a cushioned seat to starboard. Everything is open plan, so privacy depends on optional modesty screens.

The double berth is fine for two, sleeping heads aft because of the bow taper. Think of it as a changing room, a toilet, a dry locker and an occasional overnight space, not a cruising cabin. Buyers who want a proper second cabin and real helm seats should look one size up at the D32, which Motor Boat & Yachting called a worthwhile and good-value step.

Running costs and how the D29 compares

A single outboard keeps costs reasonable. At about 12 gph at 25 knots, 100 hours a season uses around 1,200 gallons. Add one annual engine service, insurance, a 30-foot slip or lift, canvas and electronics, and $15,000 to $30,000 a year is a fair budget. The boat is light enough at about 5,510 pounds dry to trailer with the right truck, though its 9-foot 10-inch beam needs a wide-load permit in many states.

The comparison every reviewer makes is with the Axopar 29 Sun Top and the Saxdor 270 GTO. Both offer more layout flexibility and easier helm seating for similar money. The D29 answers with style, the hidden-engine stern and a bow lounge neither can match. It reached the finals of the 2026 Motor Boat Awards (sportsboats up to 30 feet) and the 2025 Best of Boats awards (Best for Fun), which is a fair summary of what it does well.