Contest 38 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used brokerage market for a Contest 38 means looking at a Dutch-built, early-1970s Dick Zaal design (with Uus van Essen also credited) produced by Conyplex N.V. as a solid-glass, fin-and-skeg blue-water cruiser. She is a 38-foot masthead sloop with a lead-fin keel and skeg rudder, weighing in as a heavy-cruiser hull that has long been regarded as safe and well equipped for ocean passages.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common configuration seen in brokerage, though two-cabin versions also turn up, and ex-charter boats are a common part of the population. Below deck you should expect a mahogany interior with a galley and toilet facility; berth counts vary across surveys, so confirm the actual sleeping spaces on any specific hull rather than assuming a standard plan. The saloon volume reads closer to a much larger yacht, with good headroom for extended living aboard.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Contest 38s often carry a practical cruising kit. Power and energy systems frequently include solar panels and hot water, while autopilot and chartplotter are often seen for navigation. Canvas and boarding gear commonly feature a bimini, swim platform, and dinghy davits, and teak decks are an often-seen cosmetic and traction upgrade. None of these should be assumed standard, but as a cluster they tell you the boat was likely kept in active cruising use.
What to Inspect
Available surveys describe the Contest 38 as sturdily and solidly built with a fiberglass hull and good-quality materials. A buyer should still treat her as a 1970s fiberglass yacht: check the solid laminate below the waterline for earlier repair history, verify the mahogany interior for rot around penetrations, and confirm the bow thruster and two-crew handling systems are functional. The draft of 6.5 to 6.8 feet dependent on load means you should validate keel and rudder integrity where she has been grounded or marina-bound anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Contest 38 are Greece, Spain, France, Malta, and Portugal. For a shopper, the takeaway is a checklist: confirm the cabin count and berth layout on the specific boat; verify solar, autopilot, and chartplotter are present and working; inspect the solid hull and skeg rudder for prior damage; and budget for teak-deck or canvas refresh as needed. She remains a sensible blue-water candidate where a heavy, seaworthy Dutch cruiser is the goal.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Contest 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 6 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 5 | $59,411 | — |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $41,476 | -30.2% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $43,165 | +4.1% |
| May 26 | 2 | $43,157 | -0.0% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $43,157 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $22,419 | -48.1% |
Where they're listed
Contest 38 listings appear across 3 countries. France has the most listings with 3 (42.9%), followed by Malta and Portugal.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contest 38s | 37.25' | $ 62,932 | 17 | 4 |
| Conyplex 33 | 32.25' | $ 24,500 | 15 | 4 |
| Contest Yachts 43 | 42.65' | $ 174,307 | 12 | 3 |
| Contest 38You are here | — | $ 43,125 | 7 | 1 |