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1data points analyzed by Sailpages.com to compile this CONTEST 44 CLASSIC buyer’s report
CONTEST 44 CLASSIC

CONTEST 44 CLASSIC

Conyplex🇳🇱· Design: Dick Zaal
1997–200018 built
$2.9K – $7.7K est. annual maintenance
Bluewater CruisermonoMasthead SloopFin

Specifications

Hull

LOA44 ft
LWL38.25 ft
Beam13.08 ft
Draft6.17 ft
Displacement39,062 lb
Ballast13,226.4 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL8.3 kn

About the CONTEST 44 CLASSIC

Sailpages Buyer's Take

The Contest 44 Classic is a rare, high-performance cruising yacht designed by Dick Zaal and built by Conyplex between 1997 and 2000, with only 18 hulls produced. Its scarcity and specific production window make it a unique collector's item within the modern classic market.

Best for:
This boat suits experienced sailors seeking a fast, responsive masthead sloop with substantial displacement (39062.0 lb) for comfortable coastal and offshore cruising. Its high comfort ratio (49.2) indicates it is well-suited for those prioritizing motion comfort in heavy weather.
Bluewater capability:
With a low capsize ratio of 1.55 and a displacement of 39062.0 lb, the Contest 44 Classic is well-suited for bluewater cruising, offering stability and seakeeping ability typical of heavy-displacement fin-keel designs.
Comparables:
Comparable boats include the Hallberg-Rassy 44 and the Nauticat 44, which share similar displacement, beam, and offshore-oriented hull forms from the same late-1990s era. These vessels offer similar balance of performance and comfort, though the Contest 44 Classic is distinguished by its limited production run.

Performance

Comfort49.2
Capsize1.55
SA/Disp13.8
Disp/Len312
Bal/Disp33.9

Pricing

We don't have market pricing data for the CONTEST 44 CLASSIC yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.

Estimated Cost of Ownership

Based on 44ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.

$/ft/mo
Annual Maintenance
$2.9K – $7.7K
Hull, rigging, sails, engine service
Annual Docking
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Annual Insurance
N/A
No price data available

Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection

We don't have enough data on the CONTEST 44 CLASSICyet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.

Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.

1Structural & Bulkheads9732Standing Rigging6403Deck & Topsides6404Keel & Keel Bolts5535Rudder & Steering5086Hull & Bottom377
Free general pre-purchase checklist
25 survey areas — hull, keel, rig, engine, electrical and more. Take it aboard when you view any boat.

Own a CONTEST 44 CLASSIC? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.

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NAUTICAT 42
42.65ft · Nauticat Yachts OY🇫🇮

Which engine powers your CONTEST 44 CLASSIC?

We haven't confirmed the engine for this model yet. If you own or know one, tell us — as owners report in, we build an accurate picture over time.

Already know your engine? Search all engines → to find its exact parts.

Used sails that fit the CONTEST 44 CLASSIC

Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…