1980 Contessa 2828ft

This classic Contessa 28 is for sale, currently berthed on a fore and aft mooring on the river Dart just off Kingswear. She was designed by Doug Peterson and built by Jeremy Rogers in 1980 in Lymington.

She is a delight to sail and performs well cruising and class racing.

Accommodation is arranged in two cabins. She has an almost new Beta 16hp inboard diesel engine which to date has only done 75 hours. (August 2022). The whole installation was completely renewed in June of 2022 to include specially designed engine feet to properly suit the bearer width together with a new fuel tank and all new plumbing for water, fuel, and exhaust. Finally, a new propellor was fitted to suit the engine power.

Two new 120 Amp hour batteries were installed in March of 2021. The DC electrical system was fully overhauled and rewired where necessary and a 240-volt shore power facility newly installed. A new control panel was fitted with new fuse holders and switches, USB facility and 12V DC output plug. A new Garmin VHF was added, plus a Fusion sound system which finishes off the elegant black acrylic, easy access, drop down panel installation. Her navigation system utilises a new Raymarine “Axiom” nine-inch touch sensitive screen computer mounted to the starboard cockpit bulkhead together with new Raymarine “Tridata” depth and speed indicators and a Raymarine wind data unit alongside in the port bulkhead. All units are linked to the Axiom unit using the “Seatalk” system. The sail management and reefing facility has been extensively uprated and control from the cockpit is now possible for the majority of handling tasks

OWNERS DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS

This vessel has recently undergone a major refit 2021/2022 under the auspices of its current owner, a retired Chartered Engineer with a view to restoring to its former glory and particularly in respect of the installation of the new engine in 2018 which was previously connected to all the old and original water, fuel, exhaust, and propulsion services which were compromising performance.

Refit 2021/2022 Detailed Description

Engine Installation

New engine mounting feet were designed and supplied by Beta, the engine manufacturer, which allowed the engine to properly span the existing bearers on flexible mounting bolts. The old gravity feed tank was replaced with a modern integrated top feed tank with correct connections and a depth sensor. New skin fittings, valves and a seawater strainer were installed, and fuel/water separation filters added to a completely new fuel supply system. The old exhaust system was replaced using a commercial Halyard silencer and a Beta “swan neck” manifold outlet. New prop shaft seals were added and finally a high quality “Gori” folding propellor to match the power output of the Beta engine, increasing the size from 12”x 8” pitch to 13” x 9”, subsequently allowing more efficient engine use and improving speed through the water. The engine has now still only done 74 engine hours since 2018 and has been fully serviced and tested. Now quiet, vibration free and manages 6 knots at 2500 rpm. Cruises quietly at 1500 rpm at 5 knots.

The engine room has been relined with “Halyard” fire and sound suppression cladding internally.

Sail Controls and Rigging

The control of sails and reefing system was redesigned with a view to allowing all adjustments to be made from the cockpit a more modern interpretation to enable single handed sailing if required. This was engineered and fitted by “Rigging Solutions” based in Galmpton. It entailed fitting a Barton vang system to support the boom without the need of a “topping lift” and the provision of a Lewmar 16 self-tailing winch to assist in mainsail hauling and single line slab reefing in two stages. The mainsail traveler was moved forward some 45 cm to allow room under the sprayhood for the clutches required for halyard control. A larger sprayhood with a more ergonomic frame was designed and fitted to suit. Sailing trials have proved the system beyond doubt and the more modern design of sail control makes sailing this lovely small craft a pleasure. Virtually all control can be had without the need to “tread the decks.”

Standing Rigging is recently new, and all the halyard and sheets newly fitted within the last twelve months.

Electrical Supplies

The 12-volt electrical cabling system was tested as to functionality and redundancy. Each positive cable end was code marked as to their purpose at the new fuse panel which was newly fitted behind a new black acrylic control panel installed to house switchgear, a new Icom DSC VHF radio and a Fusion sound system.

The panel is hinged for easy access and gives unobstructed fuse panel maintenance when open. In addition, a modern 240-volt shore power system was installed with a cockpit socket connecting to a splashproof consumer unit within the port locker with 16amp and 6amp RCD breakers, allowing dual UK sockets with USB ports to be operational in the galley, saloon, and forward cabins plus a LED strip light facility on the saloon roof. A 40amp hour battery charger is also connected to the shore power system via the 6amp spur allowing charging when alongside.

All the internal lighting was upgraded to modern LED units as were masthead and deck lights to reduce power usage and improve illumination. New deck plugs were fitted to enable swift mast connection and a below deck mast terminal box fitted.

General Facilities & Cabin Woodwork

The galley was totally overhauled and fitted with a new Tasman 4500 twin burner and grill stove on gimbals with a sea rail and pan clamp. A new isolation gas tap and flexible pipe linked the stove to the gas supply.

The Heads were improved by the fitting of a new Jabsco compact toilet together with all new inlet and outlet piping and anti-siphon locks and new seacocks. The whole heads area was fitted with 2 mm white hygienic cladding to enable wipe down cleanliness. A new fresh air vent and LED lighting gives an airy and fresh look.

A removable two door cupboard was designed, made, and installed in the starboard side above the toilet unit. Removal of it enables access to plumbing and wiring looms for easy maintenance.

The chain locker panels, and the access hatch were renewed in the forepeak, the floor panels in the saloon and heads replaced with Robbins laminated HD 12mm ply. A new fold out table was made from Robbins sapele faced A1 ply and teak J section edging from Howells. Supporting legs were refurbished and fitted with new catches and magnetic stops where necessary. The aluminium centre frame for the table was refurbished and polished.

The main cabin steps and engine room cover unit were removed and rebuilt and all the galley sink and cool box covers also remade in beautifully veneered ply as was the incidental fold out tray alongside the stove unit.

All the internal woodwork was professionally varnished using traditional gloss and semi-gloss finishes including the main bulkhead and the connecting door and varnished cabin sides in the saloon. The main three-part wooden 12mm ply access hatch was replaced with a two-part 15mm thick clear acrylic one which allows much more light into the saloon and is extremely robust.

Navigation Computers and Instrumentation

The electronic navigation system was completely replaced with a comprehensive Raymarine system linking a main 9” Axiom cockpit display to wind, speed, and depth transducers to allow clear and concise navigation data to the cockpit and clearly visible in bright sunlight to the dead of night. The installation was undertaken by Chris Rothwell marine electronics as was the main rewiring project. The items fitted are listed separately and are all connected using the “Seatalk” system. The Axiom unit can control virtually all the yachts main services as well, depending on data readers being fitted to the salient services, such as fuel usage and engine temperatures and pressures.

General Information and Main Features

2018 Beta Marine

Hours run to Aug 2022: 74

Fuel Type: Diesel

Drive Type: Direct

Power: 16hp

Propulsion: “Gori” Bronze 2 Blade RH Folding Propellor 13” Diameter with a 9” Pitch

Dimensions

LOA:      8m 41cm

Beam:  2m 89cm

Draft:   1m 46cm

Weights

Displacement: 3160 Kg

Ballast:               1270 Kg

Tanks

Fuel:    54 Litres

Water: 75 Litres

Covers

Spray Hood

Mainsail Boom Cover

Cockpit Side Covers

Electronics

Navigation Computer: Raymarine E70636 Axiom with 9” Screen & Internal GPS (New 2022)

Depth/Wind/Speed Data: Raymarine E70060 i50 Tridata unit (New 2022)

Wind Speed & Direction: Raymarine E70062 i60 Digital Wind Instrument (New 2021)

Fluxgate Compass: Autonnic A5050 Compass Sensor (New 2022)

Main Compass: Richie Navigator (Port Bulkhead)

Ships Radio: Icom: IC-M330GE DSC VHF (Main Panel) MMSI: 232042251 (New 2022)

Ships Entertainment: Fusion: RA60 Marine Stereo unit with Speaker Pair (New 2022)

Main Inside Facilities

Galley: Tasman 4500 Two Burner & Grill Stove with Pan Clamps (New 2022)                                

Heads: Jabsco Compact manual pump marine toilet unit (New 2022)

Bilge Water Control: Automatic electric bilge pump on float switch or manual (New 2022)

Manual Whale cockpit mounted emergency bilge pump

Battery Charging: From engine alternator when running, from 40 Amp hr 240-volt charger when connected to shore power and solar trickle supply panel when manually connected to battery bank terminals. (On berth) (New 2022)

Upholstery: All the cushions throughout the yacht were replaced with blue hard wearing canvas ones having zip out interiors in 2021 and are in as new condition.

Outside Equipment:

Emergency man overboard ladder. ( New 2022)

Man Overboard Life Ring & Beacon Unit Refurbished (Pushpit)

Teak Outboard bracket (Pushpit) (New 2022)

Electrical Plug for Raymarine Tiller Pilot and Socket in Cockpit. (New 2022)

Tiller refurbished, 12 Coats of varnish, stainless polished + new nut and bolt sets (2022)

Midships port and starboard mooring cleats (New 2022)

6 Fenders (New 2022)

Day Shape for anchoring

Warps and ropes for mooring.

Ground Tackle:

20 Kg Plough Anchor attached with a swivel to 8 metres of 8mm galvanised chain spliced to 50 metres of 12mm nylon twisted anchor rope. (Starboard cockpit locker)

Sails:

Battened Mainsail

Roller Furling Genoa

Both sails inspected and checked by Dart Sails in 2021 and found to be in a satisfactory condition.

Hull and Decks

Both items were mentioned in the survey of May 2021 as having low to moderate moisture content and not needing immediate attention. Subsequently in March 2022 the immediate bow deck area was lifted, repaired with fibreglass and the gelcoat renewed after an old anchor hawse was removed. A light crack in the gelcoat close to the mast was also repaired at that time. The rest of the decks have been cleaned, sanded back and two coats of deck paint applied. Some further cosmetic work could be done in the future when time permits.

Hatches & Portlights

Main Entry Hatch reconfigured to a 2-part set and remade from 15mm thick clear Acrylic (New 2022)

All saloon portlights cleaned and resealed in 2021 and a stainless air vent renewed in the heads roof area.

Recent Surveys

There was a survey completed in May 2021 shortly before her transfer of ownership and most of the items therein for attention acted upon by the present owner during the refit.