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JulieMac · 12-01-2015, 12:45

Wondering if there are any Contest owners out there? What is your experience with Contest's quality and seaworthiness?

We're looking for a late 90's era blue water cruiser that has a deck salon and is a center cockpit. The Contest seems to fill the same niche as the Oyster 45/47/485 that we've seen.

goboatingnow · 12-01-2015, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieMac

Wondering if there are any Contest owners out there? What is your experience with Contest's quality and seaworthiness?

We're looking for a late 90's era blue water cruiser that has a deck salon and is a center cockpit. The Contest seems to fill the same niche as the Oyster 45/47/485 that we've seen.

delivered several, and have friend that has one,

great yacht, up there with HR and the likes , you'll not be disappointed , very seaworthy, strong , well made.

dave

Eleuthera 2014 · 12-01-2015, 18:11

IMO, they are the best of your choices. Ahead of Oyster and HR.

GL..

JulieMac · 12-01-2015, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleuthera 2014

IMO, they are the best of your choices. Ahead of Oyster and HR.

GL..

Agreed?!

I think they look like high quality and tastefully designed boats.

The fact that some are available in the far north, where they spend all winter in heated buildings, should add to their life, too.

(To be fair, I don't think you can go wrong with those brands. It comes down to condition at that point)

hjvanh · 13-01-2015, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieMac

Agreed?!

I think they look like high quality and tastefully designed boats.

The fact that some are available in the far north, where they spend all winter in heated buildings, should add to their life, too.

(To be fair, I don't think you can go wrong with those brands. It comes down to condition at that point)

It's Dutch, so it's good !!!

We own a Contest 31HT for four years now and we are fond of her.
We have been to England, France and Norway and she has proven her seaworthness. This year we are going for a long trip to Portugal where we will stay for next winter. After that we will go to the Med to Greech and Turkey or we will go to the Azores.

meirriba · 13-01-2015, 11:53

Contest is an excellent brand, high quality build, go anywhere boat.
You will not find a better boat (maybe if custom built to some outstanding specs)

But - you always should go through a survey, to find hidden issues.

w1651 · 13-01-2015, 13:27

I have a 1972 contest 33 I have been rehabbing for two years now. It is strong, sails well to the wind, and is a very very comfortable boat to be on. IIt is made for the Baltic so it has to be built tough. She is fast too.
The only thing with mine is the chain plates at the deck on the port side was corroded, the other is creature comforts. But the newer models are loaded with them.

ALAIN97133 · 14-01-2015, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieMac

Wondering if there are any Contest owners out there? What is your experience with Contest's quality and seaworthiness?

We're looking for a late 90's era blue water cruiser that has a deck salon and is a center cockpit. The Contest seems to fill the same niche as the Oyster 45/47/485 that we've seen.

My second sailboat was a Camper & Nicholson 31 which I sailed from Southampton UK to Vancouver BC over a 3 year period... all this to say I would take an Oyster over a Contest anytime. Contest are good such as Dufour or Beneteau while Oyster are more like Wauquiez or Swan

Good luck

meirriba · 14-01-2015, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALAIN97133

My second sailboat was a Camper & Nicholson 31 which I sailed from Southampton UK to Vancouver BC over a 3 year period... all this to say I would take an Oyster over a Contest anytime. Contest are good such as Dufour or Beneteau while Oyster are more like Wauquiez or Swan

Good luck

If you think that Contest is like Beneteau, I believe you have some reality recognition issues....No offence meant...
I have seen close several Contests - it is a different animal altogether, on par with Oyster (quality and price...).

gentlerain · 15-01-2015, 10:47

Ihave a Contest 38S Ketch rig and have owned her since new in 1982. I woned a 25' Contest before that which showed me the quality of these boats. They are very well built, strong and comfortable AND sail very well.
Unfortunately I am having to sell her due to MY age, She is just over 30 and still looks young, unlike me! I would recommend these boats without hesitation.
Catherine

goboatingnow · 15-01-2015, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALAIN97133

My second sailboat was a Camper & Nicholson 31 which I sailed from Southampton UK to Vancouver BC over a 3 year period... all this to say I would take an Oyster over a Contest anytime. Contest are good such as Dufour or Beneteau while Oyster are more like Wauquiez or Swan

Good luck

with no offence to Kenomac, Id take a contest over a oyster any day, way better boat in my opinion.

ALAIN97133 · 15-01-2015, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

with no offence to Kenomac, I'd take a Contest over an Oyster any day, way better boat in my opinion.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"... but since I barely could afford a 1987 34 footer, if you give me the smallest current Oyster (47') or the smallest current Contest (42') I'll take it & say "thank you very much!". I remember Contest back from the '70 when they were building 27 & 30 footer... back then they were like Dufour no better !

JulieMac · 19-01-2015, 19:40

I've come to learn the shoal draft keel on this vintage Contest is a wing keel that I'm told looks like this:

Although the 5"11 draft is marginally okay for the Bahamas, having one the can dig into the sand is probably a deal killer.

I'd opt for their fin keel, but that increases the draft to the 6'8 range, which may prove too deep.

I really like the boat, but am leaning towards the used Oysters or Hallberg Rassy's on the market with 6' or 6'6 fins or bulbs.

ALAIN97133 · 20-01-2015, 03:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieMac

... I really like the boat, but am leaning towards the used Oysters or Hallberg Rassy's on the market with 6' or 6'6 fins or bulbs.

I would take an Hallberg Rassy's over most other sailboat of the same volume & weight

Central cockpit, cutter rigged, electric autopilot PLUS Hydrovane in case & for long passages...(Pictures of inside their latest 37')
I don't like central cockpit for sailboat under 40' but since you're looking at bigger sailboats, central cockpit allows for a really nice owner's aft cabin, plus traveler & mainsheet can be installed where they should be i.e. at the end of the boom without conflicting with the compulsory bimini.
On my aft cockpit Ericson 34, they decided to put the traveler in FRONT of the dodger to offer a bimini that covers the cockpit from the sprayhood to the backstay... but that's way too far forward to my taste & my understanding of the stress/forces imposed on the roof...