Contest 31 sailboat - boats - by owner - marine sale - craigslist (2024)

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/contest-31/ - for basic information

This is an extremely well made, heavily built cruiser/racer, built at Conyplex in The Netherlands in 1972. Contest Yachts is still in business and makes splendid quality boats. This is not a "plastic fantastic", this is a boat meant for North Sea conditions. Solid wood interior, solid teak sole (solid 1" thick teak planks), mahogany cabinetry - built to last, and built to be worked on. You can disassemble the interior with a screwdriver for easy access and maintenance.

SOLID FIBERGLASS HULL AND DECK. No foam or balsa core, anywhere. No problems with the nightmare of waterlogged and rotting cores that plague SO MANY older boats.

Yanmar 3YM20 is basically new - has about 350 hours on it - professionally repowered at Deltaville Yacht Yard. Starts perfectly and runs smooth and cool. Annually maintained.

NEW SAILS - brand new hand made custom main and 130% genoa made by Latell Sailmakers in Deltaville, VA. Put on the boat in 2023.

NEW RUNNING RIGGING in 2023.

NEW Standard Horizon ship VHF with AIS, also new handheld Standard Horizon VHF.

NEW Batteries - 2 new high capacity batteries put in winter of 2023.

NEW solar array - 2 x 100 watt solar panels with new heavy duty solar charge controller.

NEW Lewmar self-tailing winches, 2 in co*ckpit, one on the mast in 2023. (These replaced the lovely old bronze non self-tailers that took a winch handle that is no longer obtainable.)

Boat was fully rerigged about 10 years ago, to include new mast and boom by Selden.

NEW 35 pound Mantus M1 anchor with NEW chain/nylon rode.

NEW BOTTOM JOB in 2022 - NO BLISTERS AT ALL - complete sand down and paint with 2 coats of antifouling.
NEW Topside paint - Awlgrip in a deep green.

REWIRED the breaker panel completely. It had the original 1972 electronics in place, (see photos for the original condition) - this has all been torn out and replaced with industry standard Blue Sea equipment. New navigation red/green at the bow. All interior lights are LED. New interior air fan. New main power switch.

NEW Airhead composting head - old head and holding tank removed, thru hull professionally sealed with fiberglass.
(Many anchorages are now requiring a composting head and traditional wet marine heads are zip tied closed when you check in leaving you without a head.)

Converted 2 of the cabin port lights to GEBO brand opening offshore port lights for ventilation.

NEW Lewmar forward opening hatch over the head.

NEW foam cushions throughout - with new zipper covers that I made myself. They're not the best (I am not a professional at sewing, LOL) but they're clean and perfectly useable.

Complete scrub down and revarnish of the interior with scrubbing and repainting of all cabinet interiors.

Alcohol 1 burner stove - simple, fool proof.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE - work I was planning on doing this year and after the move to Oriental:
1. Replace engine raw water thru-hull with a Groco bronze. I bought this solid bronze thru hull and it comes with the boat.
2. Rewire mast for masthead light and run new VHF cable. I have the cable already. This can be done in a couple of hours after dropping the mast.
3. Standing rig is in good condition. Should be rerigged in the next 5 years or so if you want to go offshore, as a general safety measure.
4. Repair a small leak at the forward hatch and bolt in place. I've used it for 2 years this way with no problem, but this needs to be done before going offshore.

Boat comes with a lot of the general stuff that boats come with - too much to list - things like a new high capacity bilge pump, lights, extra line of multiple sizes, etc. etc.

You can buy this boat and enjoy her here on the best sailing lake in the area or move her to the coast and with minimal shakedown work you can absolutely eat the Bahamas up. Florida Keys, Bermuda, Maine Coast, etc.

I'm not interested in dickering on price. This is half what I paid for it and I have put a vast amount of work into it.
Contact me through Craigslist for personal info and more photos, and we can arrange to meet up and take her out any time. I work a lot so my schedule is not the most convenient.