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A 29er is basically a MTB built around the same rim size as a 28"(622 mm) road bike - the common size for adult bikes.
Yes it should. I've been running 700c tires on my modern 29er wheels without a problem. You could also try looking for 1.5 inch 29er tires.
One can purchase a 29er bike at most good bike stores who will be able to order one in if they don't have it in stock. Suppliers including Evans, Go Outdoors, Wiggle, Dales Cycles and Re-Cycle.
Your combined crew weight should be about 120-140 kg, if you're a skipper you should be a little lighter than your crew.
29er is silly marketing speak for 28"/622 mm/700C wheel size, which is the same as for most "adult" sized bicycles - only with knobbly MTB tire treads. If you're big enough for them, you're big enough for a 29er. Do note that the MTB trend calls for sloping top tubes, so although you might be doing fine in terms of standover height the bike might still put in a too stretched out position fofr comfortable riding. For utility purposes this can be helped by going to a shorter stem, but if you're looking for serious performance you might want another bike.
Depends on the riding conditions. It it's a track with fairly small obstacles, say 2-3 inches high, (5-8 cm) then a29er will roll over these easier than a 26" would. At the same time 29er wheels are weaker sideways and heavier to accelerate, so for really technical and hard riding the 26" has the advantage.
It performs just fine. It's a bit weaker sideways, and slower to accelerate than its 26" counterpart, but nothing major.
Sure. Frames are available between 15-22" size or so, and you can have wheel sizes from 24" to the so called 29er. Even some rare bigger models.
You can't change the tires ONLY, as 29er tires wouldn't fit on a 26" rim. If it's a disc brake bike, you MAY be able to fit 29er wheels in a frame/fork that originally came with 26" wheels though. But you'll have to check how much clearance you have at the fork crown, down by the chain stays and by the seat stays. A 29er wheel will have the tire running about 2 1/2 " higher in the fork, higher between the seat stays and closer to the bottom bracket. If you've got the space for that,(remember to check with the suspension compressed) then you may attempt the switch. The bike will ride a bit higher, be slower off the mark, wheels will be weaker/flexier and you'll basically lose your 1-2 lowest gears.
Depends on what size wheels the frame is made for. You could have an 18" that is meant for 20" BMX wheels, or 26" MTB wheels or 29er MTB wheels. Getting the wheel size wrong is unlikely to result in a nicely rideable bike.
A bigger wheel rolls smoother over roots, branches and stones. Bigger wheels have more inertia, so getting a 29er up to speed will be heavier than a 26". Bigger wheels are proportionally weaker sideways, as they use the same width hubs as 26" wheels.