Design and Construction
Conyplex built the 40 A-B in fiberglass with a solid laminate, and the numbers tell the story of a boat meant to carry load and stay quiet in a seaway. Her displacement-length ratio of 349 categorizes her among heavy cruisers, and the immersion rate of about 1,086 pounds per inch means she resists squatting and hobby-horsing as gear and crew are added anchor. The wetted surface of roughly 355 square feet is substantial, which together with a calculated max speed of 7.6 knots and a theoretical displacement-hull maximum of 7.1 knots marks her as a boat that likes a steady breeze and a long passage rather than a sprint. The capsize screening value of 1.75 and a motion comfort ratio of 32.8 reinforce the picture of a stable, forgiving hull form.
Rig and Handling
One of the more unusual aspects of the 40 A-B is that she was offered with more than one rig: a masthead sloop or a ketch anchor. Both share the same sheet specifications, with jib and genoa sheets of 39.7 feet on 14-millimeter line, a 99.2-foot mainsheet, and 87.3-foot spinnaker sheets. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.60 is modest, confirming that she is built to be handled comfortably under reduced canvas rather than driven hard. The fin keel draws between 6.07 and 6.37 feet depending on load, which keeps her out of the thinnest anchorages but gives her a real foothold to windward.
Accommodations and Layout
The available documentation does not describe the interior arrangement in detail, but the heavy-cruiser displacement and 11-foot-2-inch beam suggest a volume-driven cabin meant for living aboard. The ketch option in particular points to a boat balanced for short-handed passage-making, where dividing the sail plan eases control in heavy weather. Buyers comparing the two rigs should weigh the sloop's simplicity against the ketch's flexibility.
Refits and Ownership
Because the boat is a solid fiberglass hull with conventional fin-keel and skeg-rudder geometry, routine ownership centers on rigging and systems rather than composite repair. The choice between masthead sloop and ketch is the single largest variable a used buyer will encounter, and it should shape expectations of sail handling and deck layout.
The Verdict
The Contest 40 A-B is a thoughtfully proportioned heavy-displacement cruiser from the early Dutch production era, offered in two rigs and built to absorb load without punishment. She is steady and well-balanced for offshore use, if not quick.
Pros
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and 42 percent ballast ratio for stability
- Offered as masthead sloop or ketch for owner preference
- Solid fiberglass construction with fin keel and skeg rudder
Cons
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air performance
- 6-foot-plus draft restricts shallow anchorage access
- Substantial wetted surface tempers top-end speed
