New for 2012 the 25′ Contender Bay Boat

2.20.2012

The last few days I was attending the largest boat show in the east coast of the united states, the Miami Boat show.

One of the more interesting fishing boat I came across this year was Contender’s first entry into the Bay Boat market. At 25′ it is on the larger end of the bay boat spectrum no doubt.

I did take a test ride on the boat in 15mph winds and we manage top speeds in the 60′s powered by the Yamaha 300 and 3 people on board. (I hear top speed so far has been 64mph) With the stepped hull, getting on the plane was quite quick and did not really need the trim tabs at all.

Draft is reported to be about 13″ of water. With a 90 gallon fuel capacity and 10 gallon freshwater tank making a day on the water worry free at least on the range end. I thought the ride was nice , soft and as dry as any other bay boat I have ever been on.

The one knock I keep hearing is that the bow does not allow for easy trolling motor installation. Knowing this is their first two hull of the bay boat, I’m sure there will be many changes before the production one gets built. No doubt the trolling motor issue would be quick to resolve.

Here are some snap shots I took of the boat at the Miami Beach marina.

L.O.A.: 25′ 4″
Beam: 8’6″
Weight Dry: 2500 lbs
Deep V 15.5′
Fuel: 90 gallongs
Max HP: 350

I don’t sell boats. No connection with the company. This was just a point and shoot camera.. one handed ..holding on for dear life of a 25′ bay boat running in a choppy shipping channel on boat show day.

People say it looks like it rides bad but I like to see you try to hold a camera with one hand and while holding a point and shoot with the other going 50 mph, going over chop. If your footage comes out tripod silky smooth I would be highly impressed.

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