Contessa 35 vs Contessa 32
Side-by-side specs generated from published model data. For curated analysis, see our pre-built comparisons or book advisory.
Comparison table
| Category | Contessa 35 | Contessa 32 |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 10.82 m | 9.75 m |
| Beam | 3.48 m | 2.9 m |
| L/B | 3.11 | 3.36 |
| Production years | 1974-1985 | 1971-1985 |
| Overview | You duck into the Contessa 35 saloon and instinctively lower your head - headroom barely reaches 1.80 m. | On the live Contessa 32 card the Best for block still talks about a British offshore cult with **S&S** hull heritage. Contessa 32 was drawn by **David Sadler** with the **Jeremy Rogers** yard in Lymington, not Sparkman & Stephens. |
| Typical issues | Q: Which designer, builder, and years should I verify first for the Contessa 35? A: Doug Peterson for Jeremy Rogers Ltd in Lymington, UK, production 1974–1985. | On survey, apart from the false S&S, check moisture at the chainplates and in the deck at the posts, keel bolts and grounding history, standing-rigging age by invoices and the engine line. The live FAQ still asks about **saildrive** service - for a classic Contessa 32 with a shaft and typical Bukh / Volvo / Yanmar that is the wrong drive in one line. |