Contest 33 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Contest 33 means looking at a 1970–1975 Dutch-built cruiser of which about 188 were made, designed by U. Van Essen and Dick Zaal and constructed by Contest Yachts in Medemblik. These are solid fiberglass monohulls of 32 feet 9 inches with a 10-foot-4-inch beam, a 5-foot-3-inch fin keel, and a single 25-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel — a straightforward ownership proposition for a used-boat buyer who values structural simplicity.
Layouts on the Used Market
The most frequently seen used examples are ex-charter, four-cabin layouts, though two-cabin versions also turn up. Ex-charter boats are common, so a buyer should expect higher cabin wear and more berths than a privately owned equivalent. Both arrangements share the same 44-gallon water and 22-gallon fuel capacity, and the same shaft-drive diesel, so the difference is interior partitioning rather than systems.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, Contest 33s commonly carry AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, heating, and a bow thruster — a cluster that means a buyer can expect modern navigation and winter-comfort kit already installed. Solar panels and electric winches are often seen, pointing to owners who extended energy independence and reduced winch effort. Less common, usually owner-added, are spinnakers, hot water, bimini, swim platform, radar, life raft, and short-handed sailing setups; a buyer wanting those should budget for retrofits.
What to Inspect
The Contest 33 is robustly constructed solid fiberglass, so a survey should concentrate on age-standard items rather than structural doubt known for its robust construction. With 188 boats built across a five-year run, individual care varies more than design. Verify the Volvo Penta diesel and shaft installation, the iron ballast bond, and the original rig dimensions (I 39.04 ft, J 12.46 ft, P 33.63 ft, E 10.50 ft) against any replaced spars.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Contest 33s typically appear in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, United States, France, and Spain. For the buyer, the takeaway is simple:
- Prefer a privately owned two-cabin boat unless charter wear is acceptable
- Confirm heating and bow thruster are present if Northern sailing is planned
- Budget for solar or electric winches if not already fitted
- Survey the diesel and rig against original specs before committing
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Contest 33. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $19,704 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $8,153 | -58.6% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $22,735 | +178.9% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $26,210 | +15.3% |
| Apr 26 | 6 | $22,957 | -12.4% |
| May 26 | 1 | $49,900 | +117.4% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $29,141 | -41.6% |
Where they're listed
Contest 33 listings appear across 5 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 6 (46.2%), followed by France and Netherlands.
Country view
13 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $13,928 | 6 | 0 | 46.2% |
| France | $29,122 | 2 | 0 | 15.4% |
| Netherlands | $26,210 | 2 | 0 | 15.4% |
| United States | $37,200 | 2 | 1 | 15.4% |
| Spain | $33,782 | 1 | 1 | 7.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Rogers 32 | 32' | $ 31,441 | 71 | 16 |
| Conyplex 33You are here | — | $ 24,500 | 13 | 2 |