[mitiempo]

Before you commit on a budget to an Edson manual pump you should know the price. You can buy a very good pump from Henderson for a lot less. The Edson is over $700 in aluminum and over $1000 in bronze. Edson - Edson 30 GPM, Manual Diaphragm Pump, Offset Drive Bottom Inlet

Here's a good Henderson for $150 HENDERSON BP0510 MK 5 UNIVERSAL PUMP Binnacle.com

 

[mitiempo]

Here is Edson's pump page: Emergency Pump Kits : Edson Marine Store

Sailnet does have a side inlet Edson for $193 but it is not on Edson's website.
Edson - Edson Bone Dry Manual Side Inlet Pump - Aluminum - 117AL-150

I would install a pump like the Henderson so you can pump from the cockpit. Sailing alone I wouldn't want to deal with a portable pump and control the boat - a built-in pump that can be used in the cockpit while steering is better I think.

 

[mitiempo]

You mount it in the wall of the cockpit well, so the pump is inside the cockpit locker. The handle inserts from outside the locker through a waterproof gland. They make several different pumps and they can be seen here Marine : Whale Pumps 12V Henderson Plumbing Bilge Diaphragm Submersible Pressure Water Systems Marine Caravan RV Shower Drain Portable Sanitation Purging Groundwater Solutions Voltage Electric

Here's a drawing of the 20 gal/minute pump:

 

[mitiempo]

Is this the Contest 30 you have? It is the only Contest 30 listed, built starting in 1974

From Sailboat Data:

 

[mitiempo]

All I could find is this pic, no idea of underwater shape or ballast/displacement etc.

 

[mitiempo]

Here are the pics you found, 2 of the hull and 2 showing the main bulkhead supporting the mast.

 

[mitiempo]

I don't think I would say it is a disaster exactly. Do you have the displacement and ballast figures? The advert states 30' x 28' WL (?) x 9'3" beam and draft of 4'3". I doubt the waterline length is correct though - looks more like 24 or 25.


Jeff is correct about the capsize screening formula though - it only uses 2 factors, beam and displacement. For a given beam heavier wins. Sad actually that it has achieved such notoriety.

 

[mitiempo]

The ballast/displacement ratio of 44% on a narrow beam, even with a fairly shallow keel, is good.
I think the big issue is how it is actually constructed although I don't think it can be that shoddy.

We can't all have a Farr 11.6.

 

[mitiempo]

Yachtworld lists one Contessa 32 in Ontario for just over 39k. There are only 2 less expensive and both are in the UK. The rest are between 41k and 72k except for a 4 year old one at 165k

A good boat certainly but not an inexpensive one.

 

[mitiempo]

1000 feet of 3/8" chain? At over 1 1/2 lbs per foot that is over 1500 lbs.

1000 feet of nylon is pretty light.

100 to 200 US gallons in the stern? That is over 600 lbs for 100 gallons and 1200 lbs for 200 gallons - in the stern?

For sheet to tiller steering use surgical tubing. Shock cord doesn't last long in the sun.

 

[mitiempo]

Good point on the Singlehanded sailing book by Andrew Evans. Here's the link:
Singlehanded Tips Book

 

[mitiempo]

It is a 3 year old post, but at least most posters used punctuation.