About Laurin

Laurin is a Contest 32 CS Ketch built in 1980. When she was built she would have been considered a decent size boat for a family of four, however today most cruising families choose a larger mono-hull or even a catamaran to gain space. That being said, she is the biggest 32' boat I have ever been on!

Laurin on her return from our summer cruise 

LOA:   31.82' / 9.70m
LWL:   25.66' / 7.82m
Beam:  10.89' / 3.32m
Draft:   5.25' / 1.60m
Displacement: 6300kg
Engine: Beta 35 fitted 2014
Fresh water tanks: Approx 340 litres
Fuel tanks: Approx 200 litres 

Sail Wardrobe:
Main
Mizzen
Genoa 
(With a slight yankee cut to improve visibility.)
Mizzen staysail 
(Otherwise known as a dragon jib)  
Cruising chute and spinnaker 


 Below Decks


Starting at the bow, the forepeak is pretty much all bed, with just enough space for 6'2" Patrick and shorty Karen curled up in a corner. It's also one of the kids favourite places to chill out when we are underway if they are not on deck. There is a shelf along each side which will also soon house usb sockets. We may also put some kind of shelf along the bulkhead. Underneath the bunk there are 3 plastic "buckets" plus some floor area for storage. It's actually a rather large storage space which the kids like crawling into given chance.

The main cabin can seat six fairly easily and eight without too much trouble so long as a couple are kids. Both saloon bunks have removable backs which can be used as leeboards and make the bunks into comfortable sea berths. Water tanks are underneath the bunks, although there is some shallow storage on the port side between the top of the tank and the underside of the bunk.

The chart table is a fold down affair with some storage for charts in it plus drinks storage in the support. It's not perfect as you need to kind of sit sideways on the bunk or stand up to navigate but it is of a reasonable size and does us fine. The instrument panel is a recent build and installation by Peckett Marine..... Thanks Bru!







The galley would never be big enough for me but it will do and there is a large larder cupboard aft of the galley which is very useful. We have top loading fridge but no freezer. There is also plenty of space under the floor for the beer/soft drinks to go which is relatively cool.

Going aft under the cockpit there is excellent access to the engine bay, and a large hanging locker to starboard which will eventually be converted to shelves to be more economical on space. For the time being we just pile bags of bedding and foul weather gear in there; longer term we need better organisation so that we can carry our printer which I think will be almost a necessity for boatschool.

The aft cabin is what sold the boat to us. On a boat this size it was unlikely the kids would get separage cabins unless we severely compromised on storage space, however at least on Laurin they have separate bunks. I'm currently making curtains for each bunk to give the kids some privacy as they get older. There is standing room betwen the two bunks with a sink which is never used so this will get a fold up table top added to make some more work space for boatschool and playing.

Not crazy amounts of space for a family of four, however we do also have a cockpit tent which effectively gives us another room which is fantastic.

Original Contest 32 CS Brochure

Yachtbroker video of when Laurin was sold to her previous owner.
(Several changes have been made since this was filmed).