Contender 37 ST

 

March 2010 Web Xtra Coverage

Florida Sportsman met up with Contender Boats at the 2010 Miami Boat Show to get the ins-and-outs of a 39-foot addition to the Contender stepped-hull fleet.

The Contender 37 ST features an impressive 39-foot, 1-inch overall length and 10-foot, 8-inch beam. Maximum speeds reach 70 mph when powered by triple Yamaha F350 engines, Contender's most popular engine package. Top cruising speed is between 40-45 mph, at a 1.45 miles per gallon burn rate. Four insulated fish boxes offer a total of 615 gallons of icy fish space—perfect for long range fishing trips (which shouldn't be a problem considering the fuel capacity of 500 gallons).

A Contender boats engineer who doubled as shuttle driver for Boat Show participants to the Miami Beach Marina was quick to point out that Contender Boats has a track record of releasing new models at the yearly big boat shows in Florida like Fort Lauderdale and Miami. He said don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Contender Boats

1820 Southeast 38th Avenue

Homestead, FL 33035

1.800.645.2906

www.contenderfishingboats.com

Specifications:

Length: 39 feet, 1 inch

Beam: 10 feet, 8 inches

Draft: 2 feet

Dry weight: 7,800 pounds

Max horsepower: 1,400 hp

Fuel capacity: 500 gallons

Transom deadrise: 24.5 degrees

Livewell: (2) 40 gallons

Contender Boats had displays set up at both the Miami Beach Convention Center and the Miami Beach Marina. They were hard to miss.

 

Contender's custom helm console. Notice all switches in a row, within arm's reach of the captain. Plus, a custom steering wheel with hydraulic steering. Yamaha TACH gauges at top; nearly all Contenders are powered with Yamaha engines.

 

Five rod holders hug each side of the console. From this angle, notice the clear-cover lockable electronics box.

 

A view of the console seat from the stern—6 rod holders and 5 cup holders. The cup holders often become “hook,” “leader” and “lure” holders. Below, a cushioned seat fits two comfortably.

 

Stern seat opens to reveal a livewell, one of three rigged on this boat. Like most Contender boats, there are options to plumb some of the storage compartments into wells, too.

 

In front of the console seat houses three compartments to store tackle trays.

 

Forward console chair opens sky-high to expose walk-in console and head compartment.

 

A walk-in console hatch reveals the battery compartment.

 

Inside the console, a place to wash off your hands.

 

Inside the walk-in console are waterproof switches and breaker panel with indicator lights.

 

Contender's heavy-duty hardtop with lighting. Notice the windshield reaches toward the hardtop, protection against saltwater spray.

 

An up-close look at the Lumitec LED lighting on the hardtop.

 

A view of the hardtop from the stern. Four of the eight rod holders are visible in the photo. In the background, the condos spanning the Miami Beach Marina.

 

A look at the bow storage. Up front there's one 145-gallon fish box and a second 260-gallon fish box (not pictured).

 

An up-close look at the 260-gallon fully insulated fish box. Box can also be used as storage for items like life jackets or PFDs.

 

Recessed bow handrail is a nice touch.

 

Forward anchor locker has room for storage. Notice two of eight pop-up cleats on the boat.

 

A view of the stern. The self-bailing cockpit is non-skid. You can barely see the ends of twin 105-gallon fully insulated fish boxes that run along the port and starboard. Details of the cockpit are in the next couple photos.

 

Overhead shot of the twin 40-gallon above-deck livewells. Insides of the wells are rounded.

 

Swim platform and dive ladder allow for easy access into the boat after spear-fishing.

 

Transom door locked into place with chrome on stainless steel hardware.

 

Below deck, access to pump boxes for the livewells. Not usually standard, the three visible pumps inside the box keep air locks out the baitwells, especially when in reverse.

 

Also below deck, easy access to bilge pumps. The two hoses leading off the sides of the photo are through-hulled intakes for the livewells, with shutoff valves.

 

This boat was kept spotless throughout the boat show. Notice this boat was powered with triple F350 Yahamas, though it's rated for up to 1400 horsepower.