Information about Contessa 28, Please Help

[GJori]

Almost ready to upgrade to a CO28. There is a lot of information on 26's and 32's but almost nothing on CO28.
I admit we are smitten with this boat and its size. And kind of wanting to upgrade from the ensign 22 for a while now.
All the published numbers are pointing to a good pedigree and medium to a fast performance. CONTESSA 28 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com
Aside from the normal boat advice (surveyor, engine compress test, sails etc), which we get a lot from our friends please feel free to let us know if you have any knowledge or sailing experience with this design.
Missy and Me will be forever grateful.
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[HappyMdRSailor]

Welcome to CF you guys!

More good than bad filtered in my brain over the years with the Contessa, but can offer no specifics... Approving and posting to bump!

Good luck, others will show...

[barnakiel]

Look at the rudder. It seems free standing and the boat has her age. Check the foil, the stock and the bearings. Do not feel bad if you find something, just make sure you know the exact condition and the cost of getting things right.

Check the hull/deck interface from the inside - there may be leaks there. You will want to fix them before sea water destroys you Yachting Monthly.

The mast I think is deck-stepped and so check the mast step area for compression. If there is any, this may imply looking for another sample of otherwise very good boat.

Good design and building team and she will sail faster and closer to wind than the 26. It will be way more twitchy than a C26 though.

If you can get a decent 32 at a similar price, it may be a toss depending on what kind of sailing you want (C32 may be better offshore in rough weather).

Cheers,
b.

[Don C L]

I don't have any firsthand with Contessas, though heard lot of good things about them. There is an informative website that has a lot of good easy-to-read tips about cruising, put together by a gent from the UK I believe, with some shots of various boats including the 28. Perhaps contacting him would yield some info since it is a UK boat.
Popular Cruiser Yachts under 30 feet (9.1m) Long Overall

[GJori]

Well We are buying this boat and will sail it on the spring time.
thanks for all the posts

[Barney Post]

Originally Posted by GJori

Well We are buying this boat and will sail it on the spring time.
thanks for all the posts

Jeremy Rodgers is a highly though of builder.
I'm pretty sure they are still in business.
You could probably call them on the phone.

rb
sailboatdata.com

[GJori]

We actually did contact Mr. Rodgers http://www.jeremyrogers.co.uk/ in England and they send us a lot of information regarding this boat. Really great people with a lot of knowledge.
We cannot wait for spring time.

[Eleuthera 2014]

Enjoy your CO... they are seaworthy but slowish, wet and not a lot of head room. But it depends what you are used to...

Fair winds!

[Jockjpm]

Hi

I hope you're enjoying your 28. I have one too and we've had years of great fun with her. One thing I'd like to ask you is around the mast step. Is the coach roof flat where the mast foot sits? Mine sits in a depression (I can't remember if its always been this way) and Jeremy Rogers didn't have an example in the yard to confirm if it was built that way or not. I have examined it from the inside, with the compression post out, and it doesn't look there is any damage from that angle.

Cheers

John

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, John.

[GJori]

Originally Posted by Jockjpm

Hi

I hope you're enjoying your 28. I have one too and we've had years of great fun with her. One thing I'd like to ask you is around the mast step. Is the coach roof flat where the mast foot sits? Mine sits in a depression (I can't remember if its always been this way) and Jeremy Rogers didn't have an example in the yard to confirm if it was built that way or not. I have examined it from the inside, with the compression post out, and it doesn't look there is any damage from that angle.

Cheers

John

Hi Jockjpm
Cannot help you right away (sorry)
I am on this side of the pond (Maine USA).
My contessa 28 coach roof is flat as I can remember. Would have noticed it otherwise. Currently she is hibernating on the dry, shrink wrapped and under 2 feet of snow (Approx.70cm). Also the mast is off and any flexing of the deck due to its weight (hopefully none) now is non existent.
Needless to say you will have to wait until early spring for me to uncover it and also put the mast up. We sailors know that patience is a virtue
I do have so many pictures that i always take during renovation(s) projects but this area has not been documented yet.
Please send me a picture of you contessa area of concern. gjori at msn dot com

Happy to help in any way.