Contest 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Contest 42 on the brokerage market means looking at a Dick Zaal–designed Dutch ketch from a short 1977–1982 build run of just 30 hulls, numbered 42001 to 42030. These are solid-GRP, round-bilge cruisers with a ketch rig and a nine-berth interior — a passage-oriented boat rather than a day-sailer, and uncommon enough that patience is part of the search.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Contest 42 shares the same essential plan: a no-pilothouse interior with 1.96 meters of headroom, two heads, and nine berths within a 13.32-meter LOA and 4-meter beam. Because the production count was so low and the run brief, you are not choosing between multiple sub-models or layout generations — what varies boat to boat is condition and equipment, not footprint. The round-bilge hull and short keel are constant, as is the 78.15 m² ketch sail plan.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, these boats commonly carry air conditioning, solar, an inverter, a furling main, electric winches, a dodger, dinghy davits, radar, autopilot, and a chartplotter — a cluster that speaks to self-sufficient cruising with powered sail handling and modern navigation. The original Volvo Penta MD21a at 52 hp is the base power plant, so energy upgrades such as solar and inverter are consequential for buyers who want quiet anchorage time without generator dependence. Canvas and sail-handling additions like the dodger and furling main improve usability; electric winches reduce crew load on the ketch's split rig.
What to Inspect
Ballast is 4,250 kg with a question mark questioned ballast figure, so verify the actual ballast statement or any ballast work on a specific hull before purchase. Confirm the hull number falls within the 42001–42030 range building-number range to be sure you are looking at a true Contest 42 and not a later or sister design. Otherwise, inspect the solid GRP hull and round-bilge sections for the usual age-related concerns of a 1970s fiberglass cruiser.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Contest 42s typically appear in the United States and Spain. For a buyer, the checklist is short and specific:
- Confirm hull number in 42001–42030 range
- Verify ballast documentation given the source question mark
- Check for commonly fitted cruising gear (solar, inverter, furling main, autopilot)
- Assess nine-berth interior and 1.96 m headroom against your plans
- Expect a heavy-displacement ketch (13.6 t listed by one source) with 52 hp Volvo Penta MD21a
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Contest 42. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $85,000 | — |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $95,490 | +12.3% |
Where they're listed
Contest 42 listings appear across 1 country. Spain has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | $95,490 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valiant 42 | 42' | $ 299,999 | 18 | 4 |
| Contest Yachts 43 | 42.65' | $ 186,321 | 13 | 5 |
| Moody 42 | 41.79' | $ 62,024 | 12 | 1 |
| Comfortina 42 | 42.19' | $ 196,802 | 11 | 4 |
| Rustler 42 | 42' | $ 474,901 | 9 | 3 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 201,460 | 7 | 2 |
| Contest 42You are here | — | $ 95,490 | 1 | 0 |