Contessa 32 built mystery builder??

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timmeo

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I'm just in the process of buying a 1985 Contessa 32. Something that is concerning me is the builder: the boat appears to have been built by Whistlecraft, Suffolk. Reading around, there is no mention of this builder when it comes to Contessas. The seller told me this company took over when Jeremy Rogers went under (which I believe happened in the mid 80s) and that Whislecraft acquired the moulds and built them for a while. The boat in question also has a coach roof design that I haven't seen on any other Contessas (see the attached photo).

Can anyone shed any light on this?
 
timmeo said:
I'm just in the process of buying a 1985 Contessa 32. Something that is concerning me is the builder: the boat appears to have been built by Whistlecraft, Suffolk. Reading around, there is no mention of this builder when it comes to Contessas. The seller told me this company took over when Jeremy Rogers went under (which I believe happened in the mid 80s) and that Whislecraft acquired the moulds and built them for a while. The boat in question also has a coach roof design that I haven't seen on any other Contessas (see the attached photo).

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Click to expand...

A bit of Googling will confirm that Whistlecaft did build yachts at that time on Rogers made Co32 hulls
 
timmeo said:
I'm just in the process of buying a 1985 Contessa 32. Something that is concerning me is the builder: the boat appears to have been built by Whistlecraft, Suffolk. Reading around, there is no mention of this builder when it comes to Contessas. The seller told me this company took over when Jeremy Rogers went under (which I believe happened in the mid 80s) and that Whislecraft acquired the moulds and built them for a while. The boat in question also has a coach roof design that I haven't seen on any other Contessas (see the attached photo).

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Click to expand...

poss built in Gt Yarmouth
the chap had an offshore rig painting Co.
the Co32 was a side line, he supplied me with a new rudder moulding
 
She is very attractive. She's currently in Spain looking a little tired due to lack of use and the sun, but we plan to sail her back to the Solent the week after next, then give her some TLC over the winter.
 
Thanks for the info so far. I've sent an email to the class association re one design status. Do we know if many were built by Whistlecraft?
 
timmeo said:
I'm just in the process of buying a 1985 Contessa 32. Something that is concerning me is the builder: the boat appears to have been built by Whistlecraft, Suffolk. Reading around, there is no mention of this builder when it comes to Contessas. The seller told me this company took over when Jeremy Rogers went under (which I believe happened in the mid 80s) and that Whislecraft acquired the moulds and built them for a while. The boat in question also has a coach roof design that I haven't seen on any other Contessas (see the attached photo).

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Click to expand...
Certainly a very pretty boat, and looks very much like a Contessa 32 hull, though she has a totally different deck and coachhouse. Does she have the CO moulded in to the caveta line at the bow? This is not visible on your photo.

If so it would appear that Whistlecraft must have had a set of moulds at some point between the time Rogers stopped building some time around 1982-85, and Bridgeland Mouldings of Norwich acquiring them sometime around 1990. We've sold several original Rogers Contessas, and a couple of very nice early 1990s Bridgeland moulded boats fitted out by Mike Slack. It has also been reported that Macbar Marine in Poole built one or two, so the moulds must have moved around a bit during the 1980s.

Eventually Rogers bought back the moulds, and restarted limited production.

If this can be confirmed I'll add a bit to my archive page on the design - http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/contessa-32/contessa-32.htm
 
It might be a contessa that had damaged topsides, for example, in a fire, and rebuilt in a custom style. I delivered a Rival 32 or 34, cant remember, which had a wooden coachroof. The interior and coach roof had been damaged in a fire.
 
Seajet said:
She looks a very nice boat, but I hope the price reflects the fact she can't really use the Contessa 32 name much, which will come up again if you sell her.
Click to expand...

It's all a matter of taste... I think this one is much easier on the eye than the original. I don't think anyone will be saying snap! in the solent when the OP gets her home.
 
akela said:
It's all a matter of taste... I think this one is much easier on the eye than the original. I don't think anyone will be saying snap! in the solent when the OP gets her home.
Click to expand...

Personally I don't think there's much easier on the eye than the standard Co 32, and buyers may well agree I suspect.

BlowingOldBoots,

you may have a point, I know a boat which was redecked after a fire.
 
jwilson said:
Does she have the CO moulded in to the caveta line at the bow? This is not visible on your photo.
Click to expand...

Yachtworld.com pics show she has the CO moulded at the bow

See here.

3133944_20110124015257_1_LARGE.jpg


Personally, I like the coachroof design.
 
I like it a lot too, as I usually only sail with one crew and don't race; looks a really fanciable spiffing boat as long as one accepts she's not a Contessa 32 with the cache that goes with that name.
 
Seajet said:
Personally I don't think there's much easier on the eye than the standard Co 32, and buyers may well agree I suspect.
Click to expand...

I like it a lot too, as I usually only sail with one crew and don't race; looks a really fanciable spiffing boat as long as one accepts she's not a Contessa 32 with the cache that goes with that name.


Make your mind up......!
 
Tradewinds said:
Yachtworld.com pics show she has the CO moulded at the bow

See here.

3133944_20110124015257_1_LARGE.jpg


Personally, I like the coachroof design.
Click to expand...

I saw that one.**

The description says built on a hull moulded by Jeremy Rogers.

That could mean, as suggested, that its been built from a fire damaged boat
It could mean that Whistlecraft bought the hull when Rogers cased trading
or it could mean that Whistlecraft actually bought a hull or hulls from Rogers to build in this way with a wooden superstructure.

** I thinks that is probably the one the OP has bought. It mentions being Irish flagged and the OP's picture shows that it is was registered in Dublin.

It may be the only one !

Whatever with a Co32 hull if its rigged the same as a Co32 it will sail like a Co32.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've since spoken to the owners association who have said we can race her if we want, subject to the rig, sail plan etc conforming to class rules.
 
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