{"id":138428,"date":"2026-02-26T06:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T06:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/?post_type=review&p=138428"},"modified":"2026-02-26T06:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T06:51:10","slug":"linssen-grand-sturdy-29-9-sedan-used-boat-review","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/reviews\/used-boats\/linssen-grand-sturdy-29-9-sedan-used-boat-review","title":{"rendered":"Linssen Grand Sturdy 29.9 Sedan used boat review: Perfect couple\u2019s weekender"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does the idea of chugging through bucolic rural idylls at the stately pace of 4 knots while your guests sip a glass of fizz appeal? Then what better way to realise your dream than by investing in a timeless river cruiser?<\/p>\n

And guess what \u2013 Bray Marine Sales might have just the thing for you: a 2008 Linssen Grand Sturdy 29.9 Sedan situated at Harleyford Marina, priced at \u00a3129,000.<\/p>\n

Brimming with Dutch boat builder Linssen\u2019s knowledge and experience of what makes a great little river cruiser, the 29.9 Sedan sits alongside its Aft Cabin stablemate at the smaller end of the renowned Grand Sturdy 9-series.<\/p>\n

With their all-steel construction and a hefty rope rubbing strake (rubber in the case of the Nordic variant), these boats are called Grand Sturdy for a very good reason. Being a heavy boat \u2013 the 29.9 tips the scales at 7,600kg \u2013 it\u2019s also a super-stable platform, offering a dependable no-surprises experience, for a simple and relaxing life on the water.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, though, when Linssen introduced its 9-series boats back in 2004, it represented the brand\u2019s first real foray into the mass market. The 29.9 was there from the very beginning; an entirely new design built on a new and innovative production line, which Linssen dubbed the Logicam system.<\/p>\n

Prior to this, Linssen\u2019s boats had been largely bespoke, but with clear demand for a smaller boat (before the 29.9, the yard\u2019s smallest model was a 32-footer) and a little help from their friends at Dutch design house Vripack, Linssen moved towards a modular interior fitout for use across the range. As a result, much the same cabinetry and furniture units can be found in other 9-series Sedan and Aft Cabin craft of this era.<\/p>\n

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It may be built on a production line but the quality of the interior is still very high<\/p><\/div>\n

Boating made easier<\/h2>\n

While Linssen\u2019s idea for the 29.9 Sedan had been to create an entry-level vessel to encourage people to get into boating, things panned out somewhat differently in the UK. In fact, with Brits being Brits, the opposite appears to have happened.<\/p>\n

As Bray Marine Sales confirmed, owners of 29.9s are more likely to be older boaters stepping down from larger vessels rather than newbies \u2013 and the reason for this is that the Sedan layout is largely step-free. As broker Lee put it, \u201cIt\u2019s a bungalow\u201d \u2013 and that\u2019s not meant as a disparaging comment.<\/p>\n

Article continues below…<\/em><\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s actually a very strong selling point for potential customers who\u2019ve had enough of all that \u201cscurrying up and down a companionway\u201d, as our own writer put it during the 2010 MBY review.<\/p>\n

One owner who very much agrees with that view is Chris Fentiman, the seller of our review boat. Having reached the age of 76, Chris has decided that the time has come to hang up his boating gloves. Over the years, he has owned numerous larger boats, including a Westward 35 and a number of Brooms.<\/p>\n

Chris and partner, Karen, love the water and it was partly because of a knee replacement that he made the decision to move to a 29.9 Sedan three years ago: \u201cBasically, when we had people on board our other boats, you were up and down, up and down, up and down,\u201d he says. \u201cBut with the Linssen, it\u2019s all on one level up to a point. And that makes it quite an easy-going boat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The sofa converts to a double bed if you need extra sleeping space for children or guests<\/p><\/div>\n

For some, downsizing can mean making unwelcome compromises, but that\u2019s not been the case for Chris: \u201cFor a couple, it\u2019s great,\u201d he says. \u201cOK, so the sofa does convert into a bed, which is fine if you have a couple of kids but at my age, I haven\u2019t got any young children! We keep the boat on the Thames and live aboard when we go away. In fact, we recently went right up the river for four days and had a lovely time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also a lovely looking boat. I think it\u2019s very stylish and that\u2019s a big part of what drew me to it in the first place. It\u2019s a pleasure to live with too. It\u2019s got a great big sunshine roof in the wheelhouse and the hood goes down at the rear so you have somewhere nice to sit. And I\u2019m not the only one who appreciates it.<\/p>\n

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The aft cockpit can be used all year round with the help of its excellent folding canopies<\/p><\/div>\n

Whenever I go into the locks, everybody says, \u2018I really like your boat!\u2019 And speaking of locks, it\u2019s a very manoeuvrable boat. When I had an aft cabin boat, it was like a sailing boat going into locks. The wind would really take it but the Sedan is nice and flat. It is heavy but it\u2019s a very positive boat to steer and while I\u2019ve had loads of boats, this one is my favourite.\u201d<\/p>\n

In terms of accessibility, the 29.9 Sedan scores very highly indeed. Our only gripe on this front was getting aboard in the first place, as our review boat didn\u2019t have the walk-through transom fitted to later examples. That meant
\nwe had to clamber up and over the gunwale, so a small set of steps would help here.<\/p>\n

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The single helm station also benefi ts from an opening window<\/p><\/div>\n

But once on board, it\u2019s all plain sailing with just a single step up to the side decks and a flat floor running from the aft cockpit to the helm. Thereafter, two steps lead down to the heads and the boat\u2019s single cabin.<\/p>\n

Friendly deck layout<\/h2>\n

Considering the size of this boat, the aft cockpit is a highly attractive and generously proportioned social space. A wraparound seating unit extends the full width of the beam and round on both sides to the wheelhouse doors and there\u2019s space for a couple of freestanding director\u2019s chairs. Crew moving around the outside for roping and fendering, or perhaps for lowering the boat\u2019s collapsible mast, are well catered for with chunky guardrails as they head towards the foredeck.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s only one proper cabin but it\u2019s a very good one for its size<\/p><\/div>\n

When you enter the wheelhouse itself, it evokes a bygone age of first-class rail travel. The heavy wooden doors, which incorporate oversized rectangular windows set in metal frames with rounded corners, swing open to reveal a saloon clad in wood.<\/p>\n

Space is at a premium in here but Linssen has still managed to cram in a decent galley to port, complete with worktops which fold up to reveal a sink and a two-burner gas hob. There\u2019s storage below the countertop and a fridge below the helm seat, but there\u2019s no integrated oven or microwave, so keen cooks may need to add a few embellishments here.<\/p>\n

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The shower is in a separate compartment to the heads<\/p><\/div>\n

Opposite the galley is an L-shaped four-man settee that extends the full length of the saloon, but if you want to dine in here, you need to unclip the table from its mount in the aft cockpit and bring it inside. Ahead of the galley on the port side is the helm, which has a single seat, a vertical ship\u2019s wheel and a neatly laid-out cluster of controls, including remotely operated seacocks and the boat\u2019s bow and stern thruster controls. With the wheelhouse being fully glazed on all sides, visibility from the helm is also very good.<\/p>\n

The two steps down to the boat\u2019s cabin and heads are mounted in the centre of the saloon\u2019s forward bulkhead. While the heads are limited to just a toilet and washbasin, Linssen has added Jack and Jill doors to create an ensuite.<\/p>\n

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Heads has Jack and Jill doors so guests can use it<\/p><\/div>\n

That may have been nice for the marketing bumpf but it hardly seems necessary on a boat that is most likely to be used by a couple, given that the second entrance is directly outside the door. The cabin itself is another temple of wood. The bed is totally surrounded by wooden panelling, which is broken only by the doors and a decent-sized wardrobe on either side. And there\u2019s one more door in the cabin which opens up to reveal a separate shower stall, which is particularly welcome on a cruise.<\/p>\n

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The steaming mast folds fl at to reduce the air draft when ducking under bridges<\/p><\/div>\n

Why buy?<\/h2>\n

As a couple\u2019s weekender for gentle inland fun, the Linssen 29.9 Sedan is a very sweet option. Neither too big to be manageable, nor too small to be comfortable, it ticks a great many leisure cruising boxes. With rivers like the Thames limited to 4 knots, the boat\u2019s 55hp Volvo Penta D2-55 (the only option offered) is more than enough. And with fuel consumption measured in sips rather than gulps, it\u2019s an economical boat to run. As broker Lee puts it, \u201cYou\u2019ll be spending more on Prosecco than diesel with a Linssen 29.9 Sedan!\u201d<\/p>\n

Linssen Grand Sturdy 29.9 Sedan specifications<\/h2>\n

MODEL:<\/strong> Linssen 29.9 Grand Sturdy Sedan
\nDESIGNER:<\/strong> Linssen Yachts\/Vripack
\nHULL TYPE:<\/strong> Displacement
\nRCD:<\/strong> Category C
\nLOA:<\/strong> 31ft 7in (9.6m)
\nBEAM:<\/strong> 11ft 0in (3.3m)
\nDRAFT:<\/strong> 3ft 3in (1.01m)
\nAIR DRAFT:<\/strong> 7ft 9in (2.4m)
\nDISPLACEMENT:<\/strong> 7,600kg
\nFUEL CAPACITY:<\/strong> 240l
\nWATER CAPACITY:<\/strong> 220l
\nFUEL CONSUMPTION:<\/strong> 1.08l\/nm @ 6.5 knots
\nRANGE:<\/strong> 178nm at 6.5 knots with 20% reserve<\/p>\n

\n

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Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Does the idea of chugging through bucolic rural idylls at the stately pace of 4 knots while your guests sip a glass of fizz appeal? Then what better way to realise your dream than by investing in a timeless river cruiser? And guess what \u2013 Bray Marine Sales might have just the thing for you: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":418,"featured_media":138436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[1593,344],"review_manufacturer":[],"review_category":[2978],"review_type":[],"review_award":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review\/138428"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/review"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/418"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138428"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review\/138428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138448,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review\/138428\/revisions\/138448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138428"},{"taxonomy":"review_manufacturer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_manufacturer?post=138428"},{"taxonomy":"review_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_category?post=138428"},{"taxonomy":"review_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_type?post=138428"},{"taxonomy":"review_award","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mby.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/review_award?post=138428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}