Contest 38 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

37.99' · 11.58 m

Displ.

16,865 lbs · 7,650 kg

First year

1972

The Contest 38, designed by Dick Zaal and launched in the late 1970s, represents a pivotal era for the Dutch shipyard Conyplex. Built during a time when heavydisplacement cruisers were the gold standard for offshore safety, the 38 was engineered to meet the stringent requirements of Lloyd’s Register, ensuring a hull of exceptional structural integrity. As noted in the Contest Yachts official archive, the model was produced primarily as a centercockpit cruiser, though an aftcockpit variant—the Contest 38S—was also offered to cater to those who preferred a more traditional deck layout and a larger singlelevel cockpit. This vessel was designed to bridge the gap between the smaller coastal cruisers of the 1960s and the larger, semicustom luxury yachts that would eventually define the builder’s modern identity.