Design

All Contest sailboats are designed by Dick Zaal, who for years was Conyplex's in-house designer. Each displays certain trademarks: high freeboard, wooden rubrails, and low cabin profiles.

The Contest 35S conforms to the traditional Zaal style. The molded cockpit coaming that continues the line of the cabin all the way aft is certainly distinctive. It provides very comfortable back support, though the affect on appearance is not all that attractive, creating as it does a feeling of greater mass high and aft than one is accustomed to seeing on aft cockpit boats.

The hull form is powerful, with relatively full sections compared to many modern racer/cruisers. The moderate displacement-to-length ratio of 249 gives it reasonable speed for a cruising boat while retaining the ability to carry the amount of stores that are necessary for living aboard and short-term cruising.

The propeller shaft exits through a solid log rather than a strut, and though this increases wetted surface area somewhat, it is strong and also marginally improves directional stability. The rudder is hung on a full skeg, a smart feature on a cruising boat, providing that the skeg is well attached to the hull.

The rig is a conventional masthead sloop with double spreaders, high-aspect mainsail and the ability to carry large genoas. 

Construction

Because Contest boats are cruisers, built without too much concern for weight, there is nothing exotic about their construction. The hull and deck structure of the 35S is built of chopped strand mat, cloth and woven roving, cored with end-grain balsa.

Conyplex assembles the hull and deck before building the interior; the opposite is the usual practice. The joint is glassed over with at least seven layers of cloth and also through-bolted. This is an extremely strong hull-to-deck joint that should never leak. By raising the deck a few inches above the joint, the joint, covered by a teak rubrail and stainless steel strip, is less vulnerable to damage from collision with pilings and other boats. This is a superb configuration, though again the raised deck increases apparent freeboard.

Hardwood stringers and floors are fiberglassed to the hull to increase the rigidity of the structure; in a mass production boat these might be incorporated into the fiberglass pan or liner, along with furniture foundations.

Interior

The layout of the Contest 35S is straightforward, with a few unexpected wrinkles.

The companionway hatch slides into a nice seahood, and though a small opening offers safety offshore, the shallow depth of the hatch and the orientation of the ladder make the trip below a little tight. The forward V-berths are 6' 7" long with shelves port and starboard. The hull is covered with an upholstery fabric; given the finely crafted joiner work throughout this boat. The fabric insulates moisture and sound, is pleasant to the touch, and does save weight over wood. Headroom here is 5' 11".

The saloon features a 6' 6" settee to port and an L shaped settee to starboard, both of which will make good sea berths when fitted with lee cloths. Headroom in the saloon ranges from 6' 3" aft down to 6' 1- 1/2" forward.

The navigation station is the right size for this boat, with enough space to spread charts folded once. Opposite is the galley, which we thought was a bit on the small side. There isn't much counter space for food preparation and even Martinus admitted that the icebox is small by U.S. standards.

The head is aft and to port, under the bridge deck. There is an access door to the double berth stateroom under the cockpit, giving each person his or her own side to get out of bed. The matte finish varnishing of the teak is nicely done. Dutch tiles around the galley are a Van Breems trademark. There are numerous stowage compartments, which are always appreciated.

Broker's Comments

1990 Contest 35S

We are pleased to present this well kept 1990 Dutch gem. She has been all over the Caribbean and is anxious to get going again! She is currently stored on the hard and is easily seen with an appointment. The boat is in good condition, well appointed and ready to go. 

Come see this boat. You will be glad you did and then sail her away! The mast height is perfect for Florida waters.

Contact Information

Capt. S. Lee Bowden

IYBA Licensed Broker

Manatee Pocket Yacht Sales

802 734 0757

Disclaimer

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.