Contender 25 Bay

Contender Boats jumps into the bayboat market with its 25 Bay.



Contender boats introduced its 25 Bay at this year's Miami International Boat Show. It might have been the show's worst kept secret. The 25-footer impressed inshore fishermen with its offshore Contender characteristics like its dual-step hull, 15.5-degree deadrise, and maximum power rating of 350 horsepower.

Features galore include a 340-quart dry storage compartment with room for batteries, 180-quart insulated fishbox, 40- and 12-gallon livewells, and two rod lockers. Plus, there are four flush gunwale rod holders and six under-gunwale rod racks.

Remember, this is a bay boat.

Mechanically, Lenco trim tabs and a 2,000 gph auto bilge pump come standard. The 25-footer has similar hull and deck characteristics as its offshore counterparts, including hand-laid fiberglass, foam core and foam flotation construction, a self-bailing cockpit and non-skid decks.

The console has room for a flush-mount electronics panel, plus a forward seat has built-in storage. At the console leaning post is an area for under-seat dry storage and a 160-quart cooler.

Florida Sportsman editors met with Contender Boats President Joe Neber at the Miami International Boat Show for a firsthand look at the all-new bay boat. The 25 Bay was docked at the Miami Beach Marina for on-the-water testing. The first two boats were built specifically for the boat show, and the Contender team was still testing the proper prop to run, as well as potentially tweaking the mounting height of the engine.

Check out the bonus coverage below in the 20-photo gallery, a mix of inside and outside photos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5QuwKvJps4

Florida Sportsman Boating Editor, Dave East, speaks to Contender Boats about the new Contender 25 Bay. For more information visit www.contenderoffshore.com.

Contender 25 Bay Specifications:

Length: 25 feet, 4 inches

Beam: 8 feet, 6 inches

Draft: 12 inches

Max HP: 350 hp

Fuel Capacity: 90 gallons

Hull Weight with F300: 3,200 pounds

Transom Deadrise: 15.5 degrees

MRSP w/power: $107,863.00

Contender Offshore

1820 Southeast 38th Avenue

Homestead, Florida 33035

1.800.645.2906 (or) 305.230.1600

www.contenderoffshore.com

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Originally Published Florida Sportsman Website April 2012