Contest Sailboats

[LAMOUISSE34]

I am ready to buy a 46 contest 1994, but still hesitate because of the shallow draft wing keel.
I was caught in many traps, nets during my last circumnavigation.
Plus the grounding problems.
Thank You for your comments

[nhschneider]

It was quite amusing to read the post I left in 2009. In December of 2010, my wife, daughter and I departed on what was to be a 49,000 mile, 38-country, eight-and-a-half year circumnavigation in our Contest 48. Our boat performed beyond our wildest expectations and we developed an immense appreciation for her while she earned our confidence. Granted, there were times we were uncomfortable but it wasn't the boat's fault. By far and away, our passages were pleasant with few surprises - the run from Bahia de Banderas in Mexico to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas took us 18 days to cover slightly more than 3,000nm.

Our boat's 6.5' draft wasn't a big problem until we got the ICW in the US. Traps weren't an issue until we were within 1,000 miles of getting home and the west coast of Mexico was strewn with long lines which were a challenge to deal with. If I were faced with a buying decision, a winged keel or conventional keel would not be a major point of contention unless I planned to cruise in a specific area where traps were prevalent. We sailed through the almost 2,000,000 traps in Maine and never had a problem. I would suggest, however, that you install a rope cutter on your propeller shaft if it doesn't have one.

Good luck, fair winds and calm seas.

[LAMOUISSE34]

Hi,
Thank You for your nice answer.
I would like to sail around the globe before it is too late.
I am 72, and the 8 years on the catamaran became exhausting.
Beautiful boats for calm oceans.
The contest 46 seems the perfect boat for another trip.
Your was a 48 or a46, or one of the few 46/48 built in the last years(94 and 5)?
Any weak point to check( tanks,deck( not the teak, but the balsa core),some systems(main furling for ex,).
I hope to meet You on my way.
Regards.
Olivier

[LAMOUISSE34]

I sailed from Mazatlan to Kiribati, Line Island on my FP45 catamaran, and the noise/ chocs were terrible.
A good mono allways gave me much more confidence , physical and nervous rest.
So it will be the Contest 46, my second Contest.

[nhschneider]

Olivier-
My answers to your questions are below, in red.

Originally Posted by LAMOUISSE34

Hi,
Thank You for your nice answer.
I would like to sail around the globe before it is too late.
I am 72, and the 8 years on the catamaran became exhausting.
Beautiful boats for calm oceans.
The contest 46 seems the perfect boat for another trip.
Your was a 48 or a46, or one of the few 46/48 built in the last years(94 and 5)?
Our boat is a 1984 Contest 48, Dick Zaal design, with a ketch rig. We removed the teak decks, laid 3 layers of fiberglass cloth down and painted, adding Grip-Tex to the paint, which we felt was an excellent decision. I also removed the 6-cylinder Volvo MD40A engine and replaced it with a Beta Marine 90 which ran flawlessly and used slightly less than 4 liters per hour when cruising at 5.5 knots.
Any weak point to check( tanks,deck( not the teak, but the balsa core),some systems(main furling for ex,).
The balsa core on our boat remains dry and the boat remains stiff. Sailing in close-hauled conditions with a moderate breeze there is hardly any creaking or other noise when you're below, which I find remarkable, especially considering the miles on our boat.

I think most boat owners are biased towards the boat they own, partly to justify their decision and partly because people tend to like what they know.
I am no different. Regardless, the few problems we experienced while circumnavigating were a testament which cannot be denied even if it is anecdotal.

If you're ever in Southern California, please look me up.
I hope to meet You on my way.
Regards.
Olivier

[barnakiel]

Contests are very fine boats. My only negative comment is their typical Dutch dark and and deep interior. Some like it, some hate it.


b.

[DeValency]

Originally Posted by LAMOUISSE34

I am ready to buy a 46 contest 1994, but still hesitate because of the shallow draft wing keel.
I was caught in many traps, nets during my last circumnavigation.
Plus the grounding problems.
Thank You for your comments

Wonder if you ended up buying the Contest.

Mine is 43, almost identical to the 46 that offers a more generous space. Mine also has the unique wing keel and we never had an issue with traps/nets but maybe just being lucky. I think the unique keel design added a lot of strength, stiffness and stability under some challenging seas over the years.

As others wrote. Extremely well built, great access to systems, seacocks, 360 deg to engine and very safe, forgiving and comfortable at any weather.

[LAMOUISSE34]

Thank You for your comments.
The 46 seems great,but I didn't find the engine access very convenient.
Certainly a great boat for long distances.

[DeValency]

Interesting on the engine access comment. Through all my boat searches of this size and type with an easier access from all sides just by opening a door/panel. As you move up the size to 50’++ you start to realise some serious almost ‘walk in’ style engine rooms.

[LAMOUISSE34]

Hi,
Thank You for the info.
I am ready to buy a 1994 Contest 46, but I am puzzled with the difference of actual weight( about 20 tons) and the advertised displacment( 15,4 tons).
Why such a difference?
I have confirmation about the 20 tons, tanks half full, no special heavy equipment.
Thank You for any idea.
Olivier

[barnakiel]

Many boats are heavier than advertised (e.g. Oysters).


Say a boat on paper 18t but in real trim 25t.


This much said, how do we know the upper number? Travelift gauges are only rough measure.


How do we know the boat is 20t now?


barnakiel

[DeValency]

Great. The Contest 46 of the 90’s is a fantastic model. As for the weight, my Contest 43 basic displacement is 13 metric tons, but the last readout from the travelift hauling in June was 17... ��. Here goes the extra usual suspects;
Hard XL dodger
12’ GRP double floor RIB with 15HP
Heavy duty davits
Double 2” tubing arches over the davits
90 gallons diesel
180 gallons of water
6.5Kw Northern Lights beast genset plus a Yamaha 2.2Kw portable
Anchors, extra chains, gear and even more gear... ��
Tools (way too many), materials, supplies and other stuff...

Had to have a lot for the ocean passages and islands with limited resources, but as soon as getting to Boston a lot of this will be gone or stored on shore.

Anyway, don’t worry, with good sails and nice breeze she will fly... ��

[LAMOUISSE34]

Thank You for the answers About the the actual weight vs the specs:
I asked the operator of the travellift during the survey: 20 t.
I checked with another owner of Contest 46: 20 t.
With 2 winches 56 electric, should be no problems.
But the height of the mast is definitively a no-no in the ICW.

[DeValency]

Well, the mast height from my C-43 specs is over 64’ (plus the antennas and wind instruments) and I almost skipped the ICW until actually measuring it and found out it was in fact 62’ including the gear on top. And no, it is not the extra weight that elevated the waterline by 2’....

So worth an actual measuring - always good to know

[LAMOUISSE34]

It seems that the 46 is also close to 65 ', plus antennas, making some parts of the ICW difficult if not impossible, depending on the wind/ tides.
The extra weight uusinks the boat by 2inches, not much.
Difficult to cut the mast!