BoatsContest 42

Contest 42

Masthead Ketch · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1977–1985

A Dick Zaal-designed masthead ketch built for offshore stability with a skeg-hung rudder and a heavy ballast ratio

Designed by Dick Zaal, built by Conyplex.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36
CoastalBluewater

1.75 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.75
LightHeavy

306 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 306
EasygoingPowered-up

12.7 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 12.7
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2713 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
12.7
Displacement / length
305.7
Comfort ratio
36.0
Capsize screening
1.75
Hull speed
7.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1486
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1977–1985
Units built
32
Designer
Dick Zaal
Builder
Conyplex, Contest Yachts - Conyplex

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Moody 4212.74 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead ketch offered with a centre cockpit and an optional inside steering station for all-weather cruising
Caliber Yachts 40 LRC12.47 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1995-launched cutter with a 44% ballast ratio and a 1.55m draft, engineered for long-range offshore self-sufficiency
Tayana Vancouver 4212.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement cutter with a 40% ballast ratio, designed for stable offshore passage-making since 1979
Pearson Yachts 41912.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-lived 1970s production run designed for the charter trade, featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and shoal draft
Dufour Yachts 4112.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1971 masthead sloop with a skeg-mounted rudder, offered in both sloop and ketch configurations for versatile cruising
Victoire Yachts 4212.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA modern evolution of the 42 Classic, featuring a redesigned deck and interior layout for contemporary cruising

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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