Let’s take a closer look at the Contender 35ST in this boat review. The 35ST sitting squarely in the center of Contender’s line up from a size perspective offers a number of advantages. A 35-footer puts you into the size class that makes fishing on those unpleasant days where you just have to go- much more comfortable. The 35ST delivered the easy ride this brand is known for and accomplished this while its dual step hull showed an impressive 1.6 MPG cruising efficiency out of a pair of Yamaha XTO 425 outboards.
Another plus is the fact that this deck layout and size- although plenty big enough to handle the big weather days is also very easy to control single-handedly both at the dock and on the water while managing a spread of baits.
The deck layout is very similar across the line-up on Contender boats for good reason, they’ve found a system that uses all available deck space and it just plain works. The 35ST we ran had three insulated holds below deck forward and another accessible under the coffin seat.
The massive center deck fish hold and port and starboard boxes flanking the lounge seat would be all most people would ever need but an additional pair of large fish boxes in the cockpit add more options for extended trips offshore.
As is customary on the larger Contender models, the 35ST comes with a pair of 55-gallon live wells on the transom and if necessary, an 80-gallon tank in the deck. This is all the capacity any tournament competitor could possibly need. The remaining compartment in the cockpit deck is a large access point into the bilge area which offers you an easy to work in space for any maintenance to bilge pump systems or to control your raw water system and through hull supply for the bait wells.
For a single handed operable center console that will fish a large group comfortably and show you big weather performance like this model does combined with fishability features consistent with her larger siblings, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything missing from this 35ST from Contender.
Contender 35 ST
Length: 34'-5"
Beam: 9'-10"
Draft: 22”
Deadrise: 24.5 degree
Weight: 13,500
Max HP: 1200
Fuel: 400
Base price: 211,084
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About the Show
What’s the Best Boat For You? Based on what you’re fishing for hosts, Rick Ryals, Lori Hargrave and George LaBonte will help you decide. During each season of FSBB Rick and George will review over 40 boats in several categories such as: center consoles, bay boats, flats boats, dual consoles, pontoon boats, catamarans, bass boats, aluminum boats and possibly kayaks. In addition to reviewing every type of boat imaginable the hosts will cover the latest in outboard technology and tips on how you can get the most out of your engine.
From early spring to late summer boat manufacturers will bring their boats to Stuart, Florida and the filming will be staged out of Pirates Cove Hotel and Marina. Deep See Visuals and their production team will shoot over 36-days on the water, in the water and from the sky, providing the viewer with unmatched insight to today’s newest and best boats on the market.
The premise of Best Boat isn’t to say which is the best boat, but to help you find the “best boat” for you. Based on what type of fishing you’ll be doing, where and with how many people the editors will cover key features in each boat helping you determine what’s important to you. Helping you determine what’s the best boat for me.
Florida Sportsman Best Boat is more than a TV show, each year the editors of Florida Sportsman magazine work with George to produce a 104 page magazine, Florida Sportsman Best Boat magazine, giving you an entire season of tests in a single publication. Plus, you get the most inclusive list of boats, including MSRP pricing, found anywhere. Anywhere, even online. The magazine is on-sale on newsstands each year from October thru December.
In addition to print and the Florida Sportsman Best Boat TV show there is an online feature every week called Boat Show Friday www.floridasportsman.com/boating where you get even more photos and detailed analysis from the editors on what they feel are the key features of each boat.
4 окт 2024
