Contest 46 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Contest 46 means considering a Dutch-built Zaal design from 1987–1996, with fifty-five produced and ex-charter examples not uncommon among the boats available. The boat's solid fibreglass hull, wing keel, and three-cabin interior make her a recognizable bluewater candidate, but the used buyer should focus on layout, upgrades, and a few documented systems before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common on the used market, though both owner and ex-charter layouts appear. The standard plan places the owner's double aft, a V-berth and a twin forward, and two heads with showers; the saloon carries 2.00 m headroom and the cabins 1.90 m. A wet locker by the entry with its own heater and an 800-litre water capacity with sump tank support live-aboard use regardless of which layout a given hull carries.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted upgrades on the used fleet center on energy and autonomy. Solar, lithium batteries, and an inverter appear widely, as do bow thrusters and dinghy davits; a chartplotter, freezer, autopilot, and Starlink are also commonly seen. For power and energy this means a buyer can expect independent operation without immediate battery work. Often-seen canvas and handling additions include a dodger and AIS, and many boats present a short-handed setup that reduces crew needs at the mast and winches.
What to Inspect
The factory engine is a Volvo Penta TMD 31L 100 hp diesel with a two-circuit cooling system and a Maxprop on a stainless shaft; verify cooling circuit condition and propeller function on survey. Bilge drainage is served by both electric and manual pumps, and a deck wash pump is fitted for anchor-chain cleaning—confirm both pump sets operate. The teak decks laid over the GRP structure are a known maintenance point; inspect for softness at penetrations. Windows are Acrylaat safety glass in Hydronalium frames, which should be checked for seal integrity.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Contest 46s typically appear in the United States, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Denmark. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm the Volvo Penta hours and cooling service history; test electric and manual bilge pumps; inspect teak deck and window seals; verify the bow thruster and lithium or solar upgrade state; and confirm the three-cabin layout matches intended use.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Contest 46. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 8 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $134,466 | — |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $165,000 | +22.7% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $207,302 | +25.6% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $272,766 | +31.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $218,507 | -19.9% |
| May 26 | 1 | $268,372 | +22.8% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $275,000 | +2.5% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $263,329 | -4.2% |
Where they're listed
Contest 46 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (50.0%), followed by Netherlands and Belgium.
Country view
8 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $275,000 | 4 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Netherlands | $265,850 | 2 | 1 | 25.0% |
| Belgium | $272,766 | 1 | 0 | 12.5% |
| Denmark | $218,507 | 1 | 0 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau Oceanis Oceanis 46 | 47.24' | $ 178,234 | 105 | 21 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 | 46.82' | $ 420,363 | 80 | 11 |
| Hylas 46 | 46.25' | $ 350,000 | 50 | 9 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 46 | 48.5' | $ 391,575 | 33 | 8 |
| Swan 46 | 47.08' | $ 144,500 | 22 | 7 |
| Contest 46You are here | — | $ 273,883 | 8 | 1 |
| Moody 46 | 46.13' | $ 224,194 | 5 | 2 |