De Antonio D29: More than just a facelift - Dayboat successor put to the test

The new De Antonio D29 is the successor to the D28, which was unveiled at boot Düsseldorf 2025 at the beginning of the year, and now it has to show on Mallorca whether it delivers what was promised back then.

De Antonio Yachts was founded in 2012 by Marc de Antonio and Stan Chmielewski. The company specialises in the development of motorboats with a clear, avant-garde (in other words: ahead of its time) design. Today, De Antonio Yachts produces in Poland and Spain and sells its boats worldwide. The current portfolio comprises nine models in various sizes. The latest boat is the D29.

Further development of the D28 series

The 8.80 metre long dayboat is intended to further develop the popular D28 series and, above all, replace its predecessor after a good five years on the market. Some components have been completely redesigned. Among other things, the hull has been fundamentally redesigned and now has three steps. These "steps" reduce the water resistance and thus increase the top speed. However, less resistance also means lower fuel consumption - two points that are of particular personal interest to the owner.

There is a choice of different outboard engine options: 300, 350 or 400 hp or alternatively two engines with 200 hp each. Up to two plotters can be installed at the helm for convenient operation and monitoring of the boat. The new widescreen plotters from Simrad are also available as an option.

The De Antonio D29 as a dayboat

Both we and the boatyard clearly categorise the De Antonio D29 as a dayboat. It is less suitable for weekend trips or longer stays on the water. The focus is clearly on comfort on deck and spending time in the sun. Whether for sunbathing or relaxing in a quiet anchorage. All the functions relating to personal well-being are particularly important: a high-quality music system, a large, easily accessible refrigerator and spacious sun loungers. Admittedly, the refrigerator is just as important on most motorboats.

The D29 offers two large sunbathing areas: one in the bow measuring around 2.00 x 2.00 metres (tapering towards the front) and a slightly smaller one in the stern measuring 1.80 x 1.80 metres. As with every De Antonio, the outboard motor is located under the rear sunbed - in the test boat, the popular Mercury Verado with 400 hp and V10 engine.

There is also an adjoining seating area for up to six people. A folding table has been installed between the benches. The upholstery is of a high quality overall. If you fold down the backrest, it becomes the bench seat for travelling - a little too low in our opinion. A seat position around 20 centimetres higher would be desirable. If the backrest is brought into the table position, however, it is the perfect height for leaning against. Overall, the boat is therefore designed more for travelling in a standing position.

Two models in the test

The helm station is equipped with all the necessary indicators and displays. Two boats with different engines (2 x 200 hp and 1 x 300 hp), different roof variants and one or two plotters were available for testing. For visual reasons, we would prefer the version with two plotters - a single one looks a little lost. Otherwise, Simrad's widescreen option provides a remedy.

Let's move on to the interior: for a 29-foot dayboat, the D29 offers a surprising amount of space. The interior space in this boat class is usually limited to a small sunbathing area and some storage space. The D29 is different: storage space, a toilet, a washbasin and a 1.90 x 1.50 metre bed have been integrated. Some manoeuvrability is required when entering the berth, as the deck is located directly above the foot end of the bed. The space is limited, but sufficient to retreat from the sun. The headroom is around 1.90 metres.

De Antonio is working on optimisations

Before we hit the water, let's take a quick look at the workmanship. On a scale of one to ten, we would rate it as a solid seven. Overall, the boat is well made. There are a few minor defects such as unpainted GRP or sharp edges, which are partly due to the series production or the early build number. In this respect, it is difficult to compare with higher-priced shipyards or individual one-off builds. Cables and hoses are neatly laid and attached to the hull. A little more care would be desirable with the gap dimensions. Overall, however, it's perfectly fine - we've seen much worse on the market.

Read also:

• De Antonio D29: The first impression of the new day cruiser from Spain

One point that could be improved is the access to the cabin. While travelling, the hatch opens and blocks the view forwards - a safety risk. Both test boats showed this problem. The shipyard is aware of this and is already working on a solution.

Let's move on to the positive aspects: As already mentioned, the D29 is offered in two versions: with a hardtop or softtop. Both versions were present during the test drive and made a very good impression. Nothing wobbled or rattled, and even at over 30 knots and in waves of more than one metre, a secure hold was always possible. The boatyard also offers numerous customisation options. One particularly practical feature is the configurator on the website, which allows you to customise your D29 - just like a car.

The test drive with the De Antonio D29

Now to the driving behaviour: At slow harbour speeds, the boat tracks straight ahead. It is also easy to manoeuvre with the help of a bow thruster. On the test day, the wind was around 20 knots, but the system was still strong enough - even in sideways winds. The boat reaches a hull speed of approx. 6.8 knots at around 1,750 rpm. From 3,500 rpm, a good planing speed of 12 knots is achieved. The most efficient planing speed is at 4,000 rpm with a fuel consumption of 47.1 litres per hour. With a tank capacity of 380 litres and a reserve of 15 percent, this results in a range of 153 nautical miles.

Of course, the test conditions with wind and relatively high waves cannot be compared with smooth water. Nevertheless, the boat handles well even in waves. The deep V-hull cuts through the waves cleanly. The boat is also good-natured when cornering with the engines trimmed down. Occasionally the stern catches briefly - but this is probably due to the choppy water and the waves, which are quite high for a small boat. Otherwise, we have nothing to complain about. It remains to be seen whether the new D29 will successfully replace the D28 - but from our point of view, it could have a good chance of doing so on the market.

Technical data

• CE category: B/10
• Length over everything: 8,94 m
• Width: 2,99 m
• Displacement: 2,500 kg
• Depth: 0,55 m
• Berths: 2
• Fuel tank: 400 l
• Water tank: 88 l
• Test engine: Mercury V10 Verado 400hp
• Price from: 195.160 €
• Further information: baotic-yachting.com

Measurement results

Conclusion

Even with the test engine, the De Antonio D29 has a sporty ride. However, we would prefer it with the twin engine. This makes it feel a little more powerful and harmonious.

A few improvements in the workmanship are still possible. The shipyard knows this and wants to iron it out in the next build numbers. Then the D29 will be a successful boat.