FairKeel → Buyer's guides → Contest 38
1980–1994 · designed by Dick Zaal · built by Conyplex
Premium Dutch-built production cruiser (Contest 38S generation). Designed for European offshore + coastal cruising with a focus on build quality and long-term durability. Fin-keel architecture; the rudder configuration is not established from an admissible source and should be confirmed on the boat. Centre-cockpit layout with aft cabin and en suite — the distinguishing feature of the 38S versus the original Contest 38. Less brand awareness than Hallberg-Rassy in the US market but comparable build specification. Note: an earlier "Contest 38" (1972+) designed by Uus van Essen predates this model and would be a separate row.
This is a general read on the Contest 38 class — informed background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history, and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.
Original Selden rig on most hulls. Deck-stepped aluminum spar — check the compression post and the deck collar for corrosion. Rigging typically due at 20-25 years; most Contest 38s have been re-rigged at least once by 2026.
Original bronze fittings on a 25-40 year hull. Dutch build quality means bonding + backing blocks are generally sound, but the fittings themselves are at age limit. Routine replacement during a haul-out.
Dutch production hulls of this era have a lower osmosis incidence than UK production contemporaries, but moisture survey is still warranted at this age. Premium build = generally good results, but verify rather than assume.
Contest 38s built for the European market typically have 220V shore-power systems and metric-spec wiring. North American buyers should budget for shore-power conversion or accept the European spec. Confirm voltage + grounding before any electrical upgrade pricing.
This guide is the class. A report is that hull. Paste the listing you're looking at and FairKeel grades every claim in it against what's known about the Contest 38 — where the evidence is thin, the red flags worth a second look, the costs likely to land in your first season, and whether the boat suits the plans you describe in a few short questions.
It won't read the photos or put a number on the boat — that's the $249 Deep-Dive, and for the real answer, a surveyor. It will tell you when a Deep-Dive isn't worth buying. Free, no account, usually a minute or two.
Run a free report on your listing →See something that doesn't look right? We'd love to know — email us about the Contest 38 →