Design and Construction
Contest Yachts built the 33 as a solid fiberglass hull-and-deck structure, and the model carries a reputation for robust construction that matches its 11,574-pound displacement and 4,740-pound iron ballast. Those numbers place the ballast-to-displacement ratio near 41 percent, giving the boat a settled, reassuring demeanor on the wind. With a 25.92-foot waterline and 10.33-foot beam, the hull is proportioned for volume and stability rather than outright speed; the hull speed of 6.82 knots and a displacement-to-length ratio above 290 confirm a moderate-performance cruiser built for passage-making comfort, not the buoy-room. The 5.25-foot fin keel and skeg-hung rudder complete a conservative but effective underwater profile for the era built by Contest Yachts (Conyplex) in Medemblik, Netherlands.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop, the Contest 33 carries a standard rig with an I dimension of 39.04 feet and a J of 12.46 feet forward of the mast, while the mainsail hoist measures 33.63 feet on the P and 10.50 feet on the E. The resulting 420 square feet of sail area, set against the displacement, yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 13 — light enough to move in a breeze yet modest by modern standards. The 44-foot mast height from the waterline keeps the center of effort contained, and the moderate performance envelope suits a boat of this ballast and beam: predictable, forgiving, and undramatic.
Accommodations
The 33's 10.33-foot beam and 32-foot-9-inch length overall translate into a cabin plan typical of a small Dutch cruiser of the early 1970s — room enough for a couple to live aboard and entertain, without the sprawl of later aft-cockpit designs. The 44-gallon water capacity and 22-gallon diesel tank speak to a boat sized for weekends and coastal passages rather than long-term self-sufficiency. A single Volvo Penta diesel of 25 horsepower on a shaft drive provides auxiliary propulsion, appropriate to the displacement and hull speed.
Refits and Ownership
With production concentrated in the early 1970s and 188 boats afloat, spares, knowledge, and fellow owners are findable for this model. The simple systems — solid fiberglass, shaft drive, a single modest diesel — keep the ownership baseline approachable. The robust construction lowers the anxiety of age-related surveys compared with more lightly built contemporaries.
The Verdict
The Contest 33 is a quietly competent small cruiser from Contest's first decade under Dick Zaal's design leadership. It asks little of its owner beyond normal fiberglass-boat stewardship and rewards with a stable, well-built hull and an unpretentious rig. For a sailor wanting an early-1970s Dutch cruiser with structural substance, it is an easy boat to trust.
Pros
- Robust solid-fiberglass construction with a 41-percent ballast ratio
- One of the more common early Contest models, easing parts and community access
- Moderate, forgiving performance suited to coastal cruising
Cons
- Modest sail plan and 6.8-knot hull speed limit outright pace
- Early-1970s systems and tankage suit weekends more than extended cruising
