Contest 32 CS Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Contest 32 CS means looking at a boat built in a defined window: Dick Zaal's design ran from hull 001 through 102 between 1978 and 1985, and every example carries the beamy, high-freeboard, centre-cockpit character that defines the model. These are pure cruisers, not performance boats, and the used fleet reflects that original brief rather than later trends.
Layouts on the Used Market
The centre cockpit anchors a layout that puts a large aftercabin with a double and single bunk aft, two berths in the forecabin, and a dinette-style saloon between them for a total of six or seven berths. A large heads sits in the main part of the boat. Buyers should expect the small galley and modest chart table noted in the original design — these are inherent to the plan, not signs of poor upkeep. The sloop or ketch rig choice was original, so layout and rig are tied to the individual hull's spec rather than a later conversion.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Heating is commonly fitted across the used fleet, a practical addition for a high-freeboard cruiser used in cooler climates. The builder's optional cockpit screen or full wheelhouse was available originally and may appear on some boats as a period-correct feature rather than a modern refit. Beyond that, the available documentation records no frequent owner upgrades, so equipment levels vary mostly by original specification and owner history.
What to Inspect
The available documentation records no quantified structural defects, drainage failures, or flooding paths for the 32 CS, and no truncated survey measurements are cited against the hull. The items to verify are therefore the design-intrinsic limitations rather than known faults: confirm the galley and chart table sizes suit your plans, and check that a ketch rig (if present) is complete and serviceable. The production boundary of hulls 001–102 built 1978–1985 should be confirmed against the hull number to avoid confusion with other Contest generations.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for the Contest 32 CS is the Netherlands. For a buyer, the checklist is short and factual:
- Confirm hull number falls within 001–102 and build year 1978–1985
- Verify centre-cockpit, aftercabin, six or seven berths as expected
- Expect small galley and modest chart table by design
- Check for commonly fitted heating
- Inspect sloop or ketch rig per original specification
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Contest 32 CS. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25 | 1 | $ 28,607 | — |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $ 57,100 | +99.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $ 68,543 | +20.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $ 33,757 | -50.8% |
Where they're listed
Contest 32 CS listings appear across 1 country. Netherlands has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $ 33,757 | 3 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Rogers 32 | 32' | $ 33,000 | 65 | 20 |
| Contest 38s | 37.25' | $ 65,594 | 22 | 3 |
| Conyplex 33 | 32.25' | $ 24,234 | 14 | 3 |
| CS 33 | 32.67' | $ 21,764 | 13 | 4 |
| Contest 32 CSYou are here | — | $ 45,403 | 4 | 1 |