Contessa 32 woe's

[amuges]

Hi all,

I've spend hours reading posts on this forum but this is my first post so please forgive rookie errors!

I am looking for some help, advice and experience regarding the kinds of structural damage a Contessa 32 might suffer due to stress.

I'm trying to buy a boat, after a lot of searching, thinking, viewing and at least one disappointment following a damning survey I am now looking for a Contessa 32 (or similar)

I've found a late '70s Co32 and she looks OK to me, I made a subject to survey and sea trial offer and called some local surveyors to see when they could do the deed. The third one I spoke to said "I've surveyed her before, there were structural issues related to stress and I do not believe they have been fixed"

I know the boat has been raced, and sailed across the Atlantic and the surveyor, whilst fairly cagey with his information, did allude to his belief that the stress was due to the Atlantic Crossing.

I am trying to find the truth, right now I feel as though someone is not telling me something, in the meantime, any pearls of wisdom from the gurus on this forum would be really helpful.

Thanks in anticipation

Michael

 

[ripvan1]

Can you not make him an offer for copy of survey and take it from there ?

 

[Tam Lin]

There are plenty more boats out there, why waste your time with a dodgy one?

 

[Poignard]

1. Employ you own surveyor. The cost will be trifling compared to what you might have to spend fixing a dud boat.

2. I suppose there is a Contessa 32 class association you could seek advice from. If they are anywhere near as good as the Twister class association you will soon be made aware of all the likely problems the type may have and what is involved in putting them right.

 

[Jabs]

The Contessa Owners Association is a great source of information, and boats.

Tony

 

[sarabande]

you have spoken to three surveyors about a single boat ? That sounds a bit unusual.


C32s are normally much sought after boats, so if this one is recently on the market, there may be a competitive element in the surveyor's comments.


If there is any doubt in your mind, walk away, there are lots and lots of good boats with pedigree on the market.

 

[JumbleDuck]

1. Employ you own surveyor. The cost will be trifling compared to what you might have to spend fixing a dud boat.

Absolutely. Elsewhere you'll find the latest installment of a forumites attempt to do up a tore-out old racer using nothing but money and enthusiasm. It's not a happy story.

 

[Poignard]

There's a very forlorn looking Co32 covered in guano in Vannes (Brittany) that's obviously been abandoned. If I had the time (and the life expectancy!) I'd be tempted to track down its owner, have a good look at it and, if there was nothing too badly wrong with it, negotiate a very low price for it. Then bring it home on a lorry and restore it.

 

[KellysEye]

That's odd Contessas are very solidy built racing and crossing the Atlantic shouldn't cause structural damage. Have you talked to the owner about it?

 

[Robin]

That's odd Contessas are very solidy built racing and crossing the Atlantic shouldn't cause structural damage. Have you talked to the owner about it?

There were issues IIRC on some with stress cracking caused from panels flexing over the bulkheads between main and forecabin.

 

[bitbaltic]

If the survey was prepared for someone who is not the present owner you may be able to negotiate with them and the surveyor to release it to you for a fee. If it was prepared for the present owner, and he will not make it available to you- there might be legitimate reasons for that but on balance it would not look like he has full confidence in the boat he is selling.

As said Co32s are generally well built- I would expect it takes a lot to structurally damage one. But you are looking at an old boat that has been raced hard and crossed oceans.

I think you would do better to tell the forum more about yourself and what you are looking to do (first boat? cruising expectations? budget?) and let the wealth of experience here- especially with boats of the vintage you are looking at- perhaps widen your possible options.

 

[yoda]

Michael

It sounds like you are budget limited when it comes to the CO32 and will therefore tend to be looking at boats with potential for further costs. Why not look at an Albin Ballad where you may get a much better found boat of very similar size and capability for less money.

Yoda

 

[amuges]

OK - thanks all for you comments

The reason for three surveyors was that I had three numbers, I called all three and only got through to one, I then received a call back from the one who told me about the stress issues.

I am also pretty surprised that a boat as tough as the Co32 would suffer from stress related structural damage (I'd have thought thrashing round the cans would be more likely to damage the boat than an ocean crossing too) - the class association website is a good idea, thanks, I'll check that out... also, the bulkhead stress points are something I'd not considered, I'll go back and have a look.

The surveyor offered to contact his client and ask if they were willing to see the report so I might see it yet.

Ultimately, I may just walk away, I do know there are plenty of other boats out there, it's just finding the good amongst the 'less good' that's the tricky part!

I am interested in Co32, Sadler 32, Nicholson 32.... (they are the only ones I know a little about) but suggestions of good, traditional (either long fin and skeg or long keel) for safe cruising UK and France mainly - would be appreciated.

Thanks again for all your comments

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

An important factor is how much time and ability do you have in order to put things right yourself. If you will need to pay others to do the work then I would say "look elsewhere".
If you have the time and the skills it can be a very satisfying experience... if the price for the boat is right.
My boat is a Centurion 32 from 1973, around the same era of the Contessa 32. At that time these boats were built up to a standard and not down to a price. The restoration took me twenty-five weeks, going to the yard 3 or 4 times a week but it was well worth the effort. Of course, the price that I paid for her was low and she had not been used for some ten years. I bought 'as is' and I only got a surveyor when the work was finished and I needed the insurance so that I could sail away.
In conclusion, if you have the required skills - within reason - there is not much that cannot be fixed on a boat... as long as you don't cost your time. I don't have that problem because, come December, I'll be seventy.
On the other hand, if you don't have the time or the skills and need to pay for outside help, it can - and will - be a costly exercise.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

This was four weeks ago, a 43-year Old Lady waiting for the TraveLift...

 

[Rivers & creeks]

A Centurion 32 would be a much better bet anyway, more boat, faster, cheaper to buy and a drier ride.

 

[amuges]

This was four weeks ago, a 43-year Old Lady waiting for the TraveLift...

Wow! stunning - looks like you have done an amazing job - interestingly, I'm hoping to view a Centurion next week, I know very little about them but the broker I know recommended her based on my requirements.

 

[Seajet]

Co32's are lovely, tough boats with a pedigree possibly second to none; but if one has been raced hard and sailed - hard or not - across the Atlantic etc, even the magic ' Co ' won't erect a force field to prevent hard groundings when racing, or even running into nasty flotsam like trees / containers etc in the Atlantic.

Any boat of this age & CV will require a really good looking at, and as others have hinted - almost certainly also require a buyer capable of potentially quite serious work themselves, or of seriously paying someone who is !

May be worth a rethink on the ' dream boat ' V financial reality ?

 

[grumpy_o_g]

May be worth getting in touch with Jeremy Rogers in Lymington. Nearest thing there is to a definitive source of knowledge on Contessas, especially 32's.

 

[macd]

A Centurion 32 would be a much better bet anyway, more boat, faster, cheaper to buy and a drier ride.

Sensible advice. Excellent boats with good pedigree, and you don't pay a premium for the name.

 

[Tranona]

I am interested in Co32, Sadler 32, Nicholson 32.... (they are the only ones I know a little about) but suggestions of good, traditional (either long fin and skeg or long keel) for safe cruising UK and France mainly - would be appreciated.

Thanks again for all your comments

You don't need a boat of that type for safe cruising in our waters - only a minority do so. The three you mention are actually very different types of boat although there is a connection between the CO and Sadler for obvious reasons.

There is a much wider range of boats available than long keel or even fin and skeg that make very good safe cruisers, and depending on your budget, looking at newer boats may get you better value.

By your own admission you know little about boats, so you might like to ask yourself why so few people own long keel boats.