What should I look for when buying secondhand?

Contender hulls show excellent longevity and so buying a secondhand boat is the most common way into the class for newcomers.

Rig tensions used within the class are generally relatively low (300 lbs on shrouds) which means most hulls have not been over stressed.

Look at the hull-deck joint as these can be prone to leaks on some of the older all-glass boats.

Other points to look for are the general condition of the hull (a few scratches are inevitable from the trapeze hook), state of the rig, trailer and other gear.

Check for correctors - older boats do tend to put on a bit of extra weight with age (like their owners!), and a good older hull can be brought up to speed by re-weighing and the removal of correctors, together with the addition of a new mast and sail.