Design and Construction
Zaal's lines give the 42 S a length-to-beam ratio of 3.22 and a displacement-length ratio of 317, placing her among heavy cruisers anchor. The hull is solid fibreglass laid up by Conyplex, carrying 11,078 pounds of lead ballast for a 38 percent ballast ratio. Distributed over a 34.45-foot waterline and 12.8-foot beam, that mass yields a motion comfort ratio of 40.9 and an immersion rate of about 1,536 pounds per inch. The fin keel draws between 6.73 and 7.03 feet depending on load, confining her to major marinas but anchoring a capsize screening value of 1.67.
Rig and Handling
The masthead rig carries a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.31. Jib and genoa sheets run 41.2 feet at 14 mm diameter, the mainsheet stretches 102.9 feet at 14 mm, and the spinnaker sheet measures 90.6 feet anchor. The theoretical hull speed is 7.9 knots, and the wetted surface of 505 square feet rewards steady wind rather than light-air acceleration.
Accommodations and Cruising Profile
At just over 41 feet overall with a 12.8-foot beam, the 42 S gives room below. Her 88-gallon diesel and 117-gallon water capacities define a voyaging interior. The load-dependent draft means she settles onto her lines when full of gear.
Known Issues
The load-dependent draft of 6.73 to 7.03 feet limits her to major marinas and means a heavily laden hull draws nearer the deeper end of that range. This is not a shoal-draft boat.
Refits and Ownership
With production from 1998 to 2002, the 42 S is a small cohort. The 59-horsepower Volvo Penta diesel and solid fibreglass hull argue for conventional systems rather than exotic construction.
The Verdict
The Contest 42 S is a low-production, heavily built Zaal design with deep ballast, a wet and stable hull, and a masthead rig sized for offshore work.
Pros
- Heavy-displacement hull (DL-ratio 317) with 38 percent ballast ratio
- Solid fibreglass construction by Conyplex
- Masthead rig with substantial sheet runs
Cons
- Load-dependent draft of 6.73–7.03 ft limits her to major marinas
- Only a few built
- Sail-area/displacement of 16.31 means limited light-air performance
