With 6,393 pounds of lead ballast and a displacement of 16,315 pounds, the design has a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 40 percent. That places it firmly among heavy bluewater cruisers rather than light-displacement racers.
Design and Construction
The 36 S was conceived for serious seagoing, both above and below decks, and its dimensions reflect that purpose. The waterline length is 29ft 2in against an overall length of 35ft 10in. Its displacement-to-length ratio is near 287, indicating a boat designed to carry a cruising load and track in a seaway rather than sprint.
The hull has an 11ft 8in beam, while the fin keel draws 5ft 5in and is paired with a skeg-hung rudder. Together, these features describe a predictable, directional hull. Yachting Monthly characterized the 36 S as a substantial cruising yacht with high topsides and semi-flush decks. Its 7.24-knot hull speed is the natural consequence of that long, heavy form.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries 703 square feet of sail area, giving a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.72. That’s modest and consistent with Yachting Monthly’s judgment that performance is not special but better than her predecessor.
The mast height is 59ft 2in above the waterline, and the capsize screening ratio is 1.85, placing the boat in the stable-ocean-cruiser band. She isn’t a light-air flyer. However, both the numbers and the April 1986 period test report suggest that the improvements over the previous generation were real, if not dramatic.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon looks smaller than it is, but makes good use of the available space with plenty of stowage—a valuable feature aboard a boat intended for extended passages.
The heads are forward, alongside a decidedly cramped forecabin. That cabin is better suited to a single berth or storage than to serving as a couple’s quarters. The compensation comes aft, where there’s a large aftercabin, as well as a good galley positioned for sea-kindly use.
A huge chart table dominates the navigation station. It reinforces the boat’s serious-cruising intent and gives the navigator room to work with paper or electronic charts without encroaching on the saloon.
The comfort ratio is 30.1, among the higher figures for a boat of this size. It reflects the accommodation platform’s volume and ballast-driven steadiness.
Known Issues
Available material on this model identifies few defects. The principal accommodation criticism is the cramped forward cabin, which is a design characteristic rather than a defect. The saloon also appears modest in size, though its extensive stowage helps compensate.
A buyer should understand that no safety-relevant flooding paths, drainage failures, or construction defects have been recorded for this design.
The Verdict
The Contest 36 S is a thoughtfully evolved Zaal design that trades sparkling performance for seagoing substance. Its accommodations are pragmatic rather than luxurious: the weak forward cabin is offset by a large aft cabin, serious stowage, and a navigator’s chart table that few 36-footers can match.
For a couple or single-hander planning offshore work, the headline features are the heavy-displacement hull and the stability provided by the lead ballast. The trade-off is an unremarkable sail plan.
Pros
- Serious seagoing intent above and below decks
- 40 percent ballast ratio, with lead ballast for offshore stability
- Large aftercabin and huge chart table for cruising
- Abundant saloon stowage despite its compact appearance
Cons
- Unremarkable performance, though improved over the predecessor
- Decidedly cramped forecabin
- Saloon appears small at first glance
