Contessa 32
Excellent Stability Rating
- Boat REF# · 315025
- LOA · 9.75m
- Year · 1973
- Construction · GRP
- Underwater profile · Fin
- Berths · 6
- Engine · 1 x Diesel 18hp, Volvo Penta 2002 (1990)
- Lying · Medway, Kent
This boat is off the market but here are some boats that are still For Sale
Extra Details
| Designer | David Sadler |
|---|---|
| Builder | Jeremy Rogers |
| Lying | Medway, Kent |
| Fuel capacity | 40.0 ltr Total - 1 Tanks |
| Water capacity | 72.0 ltr Total - 1 Tanks |
| Last survey | 16/06/2022 |
Mechanical
| Engine | 1 x Diesel 18hp |
|---|---|
| Engine make and model | Volvo Penta 2002 (1990) |
| Engine Hours | Not Recorded |
| Engine Cooled | Direct |
| Steering | Tiller |
| Drive | Shaft |
| Prop(s) | 3 blade folding |
| Fuel consumption (approx) | 1.8 ltr /hour At Cruising Speed |
| Cruising speed (approx) | 5 knots |
| Max speed (approx) | 7 knots |
| Engine spares |
|---|
2 batteries , one will need replacing.
Dimensions
| LOA | 9.75m |
|---|---|
| LWL | 7.31m |
| Beam | 2.90m |
| Draft Min | 1.68m |
| Draft Max | 1.68m |
| Displacement | 4,317kg |
| Storage | Ashore |
Rig
Sloop rigged Eurospar Aluminium spars (1973) with stainless steel standing rigging (2012)
Sails
| Mainsail | Kemp - Slab () Lazy Jacks, 3 Reefs |
|---|---|
| Headsail | Kemp - Furling () |
| Other sails | Spinnaker () |
| Spinnaker gear |
|---|
Sails all laundered and in sail bags in the cabin.
Electrical Systems
12 volt battery, 240 shore power voltage, 2 batteries charged by: engine
Construction
| Construction | GRP |
|---|---|
| Underwater profile | Fin |
| Finish | Gelcoat finish |
Copper Coat 2010 still evident. Yachting Monthly sums up the qualities of the Contessa 32 - "The Contessa 32 is one of the most successful cruiser racers of the last 30 years – and it’s easy to see why. She’s a joy to sail on the wind, quick on a reach, and well set up for spinnaker work downwind. With a dry weight of over four tonnes, a deep forefoot leading to a long fin keel and a skeg-mounted rudder, she’s a solid sea-boat that will see you through all seasons of offshore sailing. All that and she’s still winning races on handicap.
The deep cockpit felt very safe, and the proper gunwales made working on deck feel secure. The grabrail attached to the aft edge of the sprayhood made stepping onto the slightly narrow sidedecks easy. With the sprayhood and dodgers in place it did feel a little too cocooned and visibility to windward was a bit limited.
She is heavier and slower on the helm than a fin-keeler with a balanced spade rudder, and she needs 12 knots or more to really get going. But all of that pales into insignificance when you’re at the helm. She’s made to sail and she does so beautifully, cutting through the waves in a way that makes you want to let her keep going. Given a chance, she’ll eat up the sea miles, whether that’s around the cans or crossing the North Sea to Norway."
Accommodation
| Total # of berths | 6 |
|---|---|
| No. of double berths | 2 |
| No. of single berths | 2 |
| Cabin(s) | 2 |
| Handbasin | 1 |
| Heads | 1 heads (Manual) |
The accommodation feels cosy with plenty of stowage, nice large table so you can accommodate friends and family for meals cooked in the galley. The wood work still appears to have a lovely lustre and the seating cushions are still very comfortable as well. Very nice, bright head linings and an overall sensible layout as you will see from the video.
2 burner gas cooker/stove
Accommodation
| Cooker/stove | |
|---|---|
| Grill | |
| Oven | |
| Sink | |
| Manual water system |
The accommodation feels cosy with plenty of stowage, nice large table so you can accommodate friends and family for meals cooked in the galley. The wood work still appears to have a lovely lustre and the seating cushions are still very comfortable as well. Very nice, bright head linings and an overall sensible layout as you will see from the video.
2 burner gas cooker/stove
Deck Gear
| Sail cover | |
|---|---|
| Sprayhood | |
| Spray dodgers | |
| Warps | |
| Fenders | |
| Swim Ladder | |
| Instrument Covers |
2 halyard winches
2 sheet winches
1 anchors
(Bruce)
30.00m of chain
25.00m of warp
Seago Ranger dinghy ()
(Inflatable)
2.3hp outboard, Honda BF2 3DH, Short Shaft ()
2 Further Harken Winches
Nav Equipment
| Compass | |
|---|---|
| Speed | |
| Log | |
| Wind | |
| Radar | |
| GPS | |
| Autopilot | |
| Clock | |
| Barometer | |
| Navigation lights | |
| Echo sounder | |
| Radar Reflector |
Safety Equipment
| LPG Detector | |
|---|---|
| Boarding ladder |
2 bilge pumps (1 manual / 1 Electric)
Spare Tiller, scaffold cradle for vessel
Broker's Comments
These boat details are subject to contract.
The Contessa 32 is widely regarded as the most successful cruiser racer of all time, they have a well-deserved reputation for good sea-keeping, liking a fair bit of wind and being a joy to sail. This one has a lovely interior and a beautiful lustre to her hull as well.
Accommodation is well laid out and the cockpit is lovely and deep, providing a safe feeling cockpit.
She is well worth a view.
Note: Offers on the asking price may be considered.
Owners FAQ's
How long have you owned the boat for?
10 years
Why are you selling her?
Giving up sailing
Where have you sailed her?
UK, South and East Coast