Contessa 32 doppelganger.

[BurnitBlue]

I sometimes hear remarks when describing certain yachts that they are doppelgangers of the Contessa 32 at a third of the price. The recent thread about the Pioneir 9 is an example. Swedes boast that their Albin Ballad is also a poor mans Contessa 32.

I am an admirer of the Contessa 32 and I hope to buy one soon but the price for a 35 year old example is beyond my acceptance . There is one for sale right now for nearly £50,000, another for £9,000 which must be a record spread for one design. I would not dare put a toe in those waters because it would need a well informed expert to know where a particular boat lies in that wide price range.

However, I am really tempted by the few genuine examples that have a realistic asking price. But what condition? Therefore I am looking for a poor-mans Contessa 32 in marginal condition. If they really exist. I know that ownership of the genuine article is part of the mystique. A copy can, and probably will not satisfy me so I may be forced to take a chance on a project boat.. I would be interested in your thoughts on this. Realistic price for instance. Can a person be satisfied with a doppelganger?
Thanks.

 

[Wansworth]

I sometimes hear remarks when describing certain yachts that they are doppelgangers of the Contessa 32 at a third of the price. The recent thread about the Pioneir 9 is an example. Swedes boast that their Albin Ballad is also a poor mans Contessa 32.

I am an admirer of the Contessa 32 and I hope to buy one soon but the price for a 35 year old example is beyond my acceptance . There is one for sale right now for nearly £50,000, another for £9,000 which must be a record spread for one design. I would not dare put a toe in those waters because it would need a well informed expert to know where a particular boat lies in that wide price range.

However, I am really tempted by the few genuine examples that have a realistic asking price. But what condition? Therefore I am looking for a poor-mans Contessa 32 in marginal condition. If they really exist. I know that ownership of the genuine article is part of the mystique. A copy can, and probably will not satisfy me so I may be forced to take a chance on a project boat.. I would be interested in your thoughts on this. Realistic price for instance. Can a person be satisfied with a doppelganger?
Thanks.

Check out yt Refit and Sail vids

 

[Daydream believer]

I cannot see the atraction of one. Over priced for a good one, Genoa driven making tacking hard work. Not much room, Uncomfortably cockpit, wet to windward. Surely there are better designs about. How about the Sadlers? are the 32 & 34 better value?

 

[Bobc]

So looking for an old, cramped, wet, slow boat for not much money. There are plenty of those about

 

[FWB]

Wishing you success in your quest.
Lovely boats, seaworthy and a boat rather than a caravan.
Add the row away factor and you’ll be a happy owner.

 

[jamie N]

I thought about buying one, but agoraphobia was likely if I'd moved from my Folkboat.

 

[penfold]

They're pretty, but that's hardly unique; the internal volume is comically rubbish for the length even by comparison with contemporary designs. Plenty of cheaper boats with better accommodation that are just as aesthetically pleasing and just as fun to sail. If you want a cruiser/racer get a Sigma 33. If it must be state-of-the-art 1970 a Centurion 32 is less hairshirt with the same aesthetic. Sadler 32/34 is something of a halfway house, with added unsinkability if that floats your boat.

 

[steveeasy]

They're pretty, but that's hardly unique; the internal volume is comically rubbish for the length even by comparison with contemporary designs. Plenty of cheaper boats with better accommodation that are just as aesthetically pleasing and just as fun to sail. If you want a cruiser/racer get a Sigma 33. If it must be state-of-the-art 1970 a Centurion 32 is less hairshirt with the same aesthetic. Sadler 32/34 is something of a halfway house, with added unsinkability if that floats your boat.

Makes no difference what you say to someone that appreciates the charm of a Contessa 32. Hell end up with a proper one and never stop smileing. even if he needs tyre levers to exit the vee berth. Wet!,lets hope so,well when the sun shines.

Steveeasy

 

[Concerto]

Common chaps, we all know the Contessa 32 has a good reputaion BUT it has very limited accomodation. All of the alternatives are certainly better boats but do not match my choice of a Westerly Fulmar. If you want to know more, just check out the links in my About Me page.

 

[FWB]

Common chaps, we all know the Contessa 32 has a good reputaion BUT it has very limited accomodation. All of the alternatives are certainly better boats but do not match my choice of a Westerly Fulmar. If you want to know more, just check out the links in my About Me page.

It surely depends upon what you mean by better boats.
The C32 is a Classic and wasn’t built for accommodation. Like the Contessa my Gaffer is pretty and seaworthy. It’s great for one, ok for two but it does everything I expect of her. Just a question of the OP’s needs.

 

[steveeasy]

Common chaps, we all know the Contessa 32 has a good reputaion BUT it has very limited accomodation. All of the alternatives are certainly better boats but do not match my choice of a Westerly Fulmar. If you want to know more, just check out the links in my About Me page.

Oh its just such a personal choice. Space is such a small price to pay for the looks of the Contessa 32s rear end. Proportional in every way and I hope a joy to sail singlehanded. Again it all depends what you want from a boat. As long as it makes you smile

Steveeasy

 

[westhinder]

Have a look at the Rival 34. Very seaworthy, strongly built and as far as I’m concerned prettier than the Contessa. (I can say so in all objectivity as an ex-owner of an R34 ) They are from the same era but without the silly price premium.

 

[steveeasy]

All about the Looks.
Steveeasy

 

[awol]

Same old story - those who have a CO32 are happy, those that don't are probably happy too. The only quasi-objective analysis I've seen was the YM comparison of a CO32 and a Bavaria a few years back. The Co32 came out on top - that's why I remember it. When I read of boats that won't heave-to, that broach, that need an autohelm for singlehanding, that need reefing in 15kts, etc. I just smile.

 

[doug748]

If fin and skeg is part of your requirement and, for very good practical reasons, an encapsulated keel, then:


Albin Ballad. As already mentioned, similar performer to the Contessa but without the U shaped dinette and more race orientated below decks.

Elizabethan 30. Snugger accommodation than the Contessa, pretty sure it's iron ballast. Probably the most popular alternative in the UK. Fit out can look basic.

Rival 32 / 34. More cruising orientated, some extra room below

Wauquiez Centurion 32. Similar footprint to the Contessa but more in the topsides. Good reputation for build quality. Originals had dodgy offset prop. Can be as pricy as the 32.


There are other designs fitting a similar brief but many either have spade rudders (like the Pioneer), bolt on keels, cast iron ballast and often all three.

If you have seen a Contessa 32 for 9 grand my advice would be, don't buy it. The wide spread of asking prices reflects the fact that they have been making them for 50 years plus some have had a great deal of money spent on them. I have seen a couple for around 25k * which looked good value, a forumite recently bought a handy looking one.
I always used to think Rival would be the one to go for value wise but have not seen any very cheap ones recently.

On balance I would either buy a good sailable example of something cheaper or bite the bullet and see the bank manager.

* eg: Contessa 32 Used Boat for Sale 1981
.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Ooops, I didn't expect so many replies so I am at a loss to give a sensible reply. I will give the bare bones for now. I have been trying to escape from Greece for the last five years in my Moody 346. I hate to blame the boat but it has become an obsession with me that the Moody and I are an impossible "fit". I bang my head quite often. I find it difficult to anticipate what movement in roll or pitch it will do next. I am incapable of sailing her efficiently to windward. (Probably why I am afraid to cross the Med East to West). This year 2022 I ended up in hospital as a side issue of Greek heat. I was determined to escape Greece so it was a big disapointment.

I have some money in a UK bank which because I live in Sweden has to stay there to be spent there. Not a tax issue. More complicated. In hospital I decided I need to find out if I was a useless sailor. It is easy to blame the boat so it seemed to me that if I bought a new toy with an impecable sailing reputation I would find out soon enough. So hence the Contessa 32.

I am sure that it is the Moody 346 that is "somehow" the problem. For ME. I have been sailing for many years. Across the Atlantic twice, the Bahamas USA etc. Six different cruising boats I feel that if I cannot handle a Contessa 32 under sail I must accept that my sailing ability has deteriated somewhat. Who knows, maybe the Contessa 32 will ignite something deep and get me back on track.

I think I am going to regret writing this down.

 

[penfold]

Elizabethan 30. Snugger accommodation than the Contessa, pretty sure it's iron ballast. Probably the most popular alternative in the UK. Fit out can look basic.

The 33 is a better comparison; more hull volume but probably slower as it's long keel.

 

[Concerto]

Ooops, I didn't expect so many replies so I am at a loss to give a sensible reply. I will give the bare bones for now. I have been trying to escape from Greece for the last five years in my Moody 346. I hate to blame the boat but it has become an obsession with me that the Moody and I are an impossible "fit". I bang my head quite often. I find it difficult to anticipate what movement in roll or pitch it will do next. I am incapable of sailing her efficiently to windward. (Probably why I am afraid to cross the Med East to West). This year 2022 I ended up in hospital as a side issue of Greek heat. I was determined to escape Greece so it was a big disapointment.

I have some money in a UK bank which because I live in Sweden has to stay there to be spent there. Not a tax issue. More complicated. In hospital I decided I need to find out if I was a useless sailor. It is easy to blame the boat so it seemed to me that if I bought a new toy with an impecable sailing reputation I would find out soon enough. So hence the Contessa 32.

I am sure that it is the Moody 346 that is "somehow" the problem. For ME. I have been sailing for many years. Across the Atlantic twice, the Bahamas USA etc. Six different cruising boats I feel that if I cannot handle a Contessa 32 under sail I must accept that my sailing ability has deteriated somewhat. Who knows, maybe the Contessa 32 will ignite something deep and get me back on track.

I think I am going to regret writing this down.

Experience is always about the lessons learnt. To put it another way, sailing for a few decades does not mean you have decades worth of experience. Crossing the Atlantic is more about sailing time than lessons learnt. You have not mentioned any racing, which would teach you a lot about sail setting, optimum course to sail, etc. I would advise getting some racing experience or some training by a sailmaker to improve your skills. Then try your Moody again. If things have not improved, then consider changing your boat.

Just out of interest, how tall are you? Standing head room might be more critical to your search than you consider. If you are only 6ft, then the Fulmar will be fine, but not so comfortable if 6ft 6" or more. I did have a chap aboard a couple of years ago and he found he could lie on every berth fully stretched out.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Experience is always about the lessons learnt. To put it another way, sailing for a few decades does not mean you have decades worth of experience. Crossing the Atlantic is more about sailing time than lessons learnt. You have not mentioned any racing, which would teach you a lot about sail setting, optimum course to sail, etc. I would advise getting some racing experience or some training by a sailmaker to improve your skills. Then try your Moody again. If things have not improved, then consider changing your boat.

Just out of interest, how tall are you? Standing head room might be more critical to your search than you consider. If you are only 6ft, then the Fulmar will be fine, but not so comfortable if 6ft 6" or more. I did have a chap aboard a couple of years ago and he found he could lie on every berth fully stretched out.

Yes I agree completely. Sailing Ocean is mainly downwind. Not always but mostly.

I raced a Nicholson 42 for three consecutive seasons. Not alone so I actually enjoyed a collective experience. It is not just a matter of helming or tactics. Sailing upwind is hard work, changing sails, tacking, especially single handed. Without a doubt the cockpit layout in the Moody is not easy without crew. The winches are completely out of reach from the helm. Somebody on this forum advised me to sit in front of the wheel close to the main winches. Then helm from the bottom of the wheel. Cancels the 180 degree mirror effect from muscle memory. That did improve things.

I am 6'4" A head banging size in any boat, so I live with it.

 

[Concerto]

Yes I agree completely. Sailing Ocean is mainly downwind. Not always but mostly.

I raced a Nicholson 42 for three consecutive seasons. Not alone so I actually enjoyed a collective experience. It is not just a matter of helming or tactics. Sailing upwind is hard work, changing sails, tacking, especially single handed. Without a doubt the cockpit layout in the Moody is not easy without crew. The winches are completely out of reach from the helm. Somebody on this forum advised me to sit in front of the wheel close to the main winches. Then helm from the bottom of the wheel. Cancels the 180 degree mirror effect from muscle memory. That did improve things.

I am 6'4" A head banging size in any boat, so I live with it.

So with your race experience you should be able to set sails reasonably well provided you have tell tales on both sails and horizontal lines to see the curvature of the sail. If not fit them as they will help you get the shape and set correct for maximum performance.

On my Fulmar I had to move my genoa winches from the aft end of the coachroof to the cockpit coaming to be able to reach them from the helm. I should mention I usually sail singlehanded and my race experience has helped ensuring the deck fittings are right for singlehanded sailing. I presume you have a furling genoa. If so does it have a foam luff to get a better shape when reefed? Also how old are your sails, as they do stretch over time.

In the Fulmar you would just have a slight stoop everywhere as it is 6ft 1", except the loo compartment which is 5ft 6" headroom. No problem with the berth lengths. As a boat it is probably the most vice free yacht I have ever sailed and I have been on a lot of boats over 5 decades. They are definitely an all round performer as they were used for International Match Racing, offshore racing, round the cans racing, cruising and by plenty of sailing schools. Volume wise they have more internal space than a Contessa 32, Sadler 32 or 34, Centurian 32, Sigma 33, and Rival 34. This has all been told by owners of these types of boat. Even a number of Westerly Storms, which are longer, prefer the internal and external layout of the Fulmar. They are a very difficult boat to better. Due to their excellent reviews, Fulmars tend to be slightly more expensive as they are an in demand class to buy as many owners keep them for a long time. I know several owners who have kept them for over 25 years as they cannot find anything worth changing to. I will get off my soap box now.