$210,000
Seminole, Florida
Category
Fishing Boats
Length
35'
Posted Over 1 Month
2012 Contender 35 ST UNDER 200 HOURS! UNDER WARRANTY!! TWIN 350HP YAMAHA 4 STROKES! It’s ready. Whatever you have in mind for this weekend, our 35 ST can handle it. The 35 ST continues to dominate the offshore scene with aggressive lines that tout an elevated level of confidence. Features include a one-piece level deck from bow to stern, twin raised livewells, walk-through transom, self-bailing cockpit, and a walk-in step down console to name a few. Whether it’s a kingfish tournament off North Carolina or billfish tournament off Miami, this is the boat that can put you in the winner’s circle. Contender 35 ST Review A serious fishing machine that can be tailored to virtually any style of offshore angling There’s no question that Contender’s 35 ST is a hard-core fishing machine, though the model we tested had at least two concessions to creature comfort. Like all Contenders, nearly everything within its 34½-foot vented hull was optional. “You tell us how you want it, and we’ll build it,” said Les Stewart, director of marketing for Homestead, Florida-based Contender Boats, as we idled away from Florida’s Sanibel Harbour Resort marina and headed out to the Gulf of Mexico. “Wait until you see how she runs,” Stewart added. ADVERTISING Performance With three Yamaha F300s on the transom, the 35 ST jumped on plane in three seconds, vaulting to 30 mph in six seconds — not bad for a boat with a wet weight of around 12,000 pounds. The triple outboards make a difference in hole shot versus twins. In prior testing with a pair of Yamaha F350s, the 35ST took 2.5 seconds longer to plane. At wide-open throttle, however, the extra 200 ponies gained only 1.5 mph over the twins, topping out at 6,000 rpm and 67.6 mph. Surprisingly, the triples get the same optimum fuel economy as the twins. The three F300s burned 1.6 mpg at 3,000 rpm and 32.7 mph. This results in a 576-mile range, with 10 percent reserve in the 400gallon fuel tank. Thanks to a pair of vents, the hull is very efficient. These create a cushion of air to reduce drag. “The aeration starts kicking in around 25 or 30 mph,” said Stewart, who estimates a 10 percent increase in mileage as a result. The 35 ST tracks well in hard-over maneuvers. This is due in part to the 24 degrees of deadrise at the transom. The deep-V hull also helps smooth out rough seas for a better ride. Fishing Our test boat was set up for Florida-style offshore fishing, beginning with a rocket-launcher helm seat with a wraparound backrest, six rod holders and five recessed drink holders, which often serve as storage for loose hooks and weights. In the aft section, there was a 96-quart Frigid Rigid cooler that cleverly pulled out on rollers for easy access. Speaking of clever, the coffin box looked pretty normal, until Stewart flipped a switch, hydraulically tilting the box to port for access to a storage loc
