Contender 23 Tournament / 23 Open Review

The Newest Contender

If I had a dollar for every time I am asked - What is the best-riding (trailer)boat of all time? - I could retire a rich man. More often than not, it's the leading question from serious offshore anglers in the new-boat market. The quest for the best is the overriding consideration for those who want to lock horns with big fish and contest tournaments, come hell or high water.

Until now, the first brand to spring to my mind is Boston Whaler. This fine magazine ran a 24 Outrage demo boat that was the bomb. But as great as that badge is, Contender has knocked it off its perch. And I say this after a lengthy boat test in less-than-friendly seas where I, too, appreciated that smooth, and surprisingly dry ride from this brace of centre consoles.

Ahh, the Ride!

Naturally, the ride quality comes back to hull shape and the boats' monocoque or one-piece rattle-free construction. After that, other things begin to hold sway: there's a purpose-built minimalist layout for serious fishing, the latest direct-injection two-stroke outboards for snappy acceleration and economy, and a keen price for such well-made boats.

With the Contenders - or at least the exemplary 23 Tournament and 23 Open models tested here - it's very much a case of less being more. The uncompromising fishing boats will appeal to tournament anglers who grimace when they see Clayton's fishboats with decks adorned with line-snagging fittings, a bow that you can't access easily, and live wells and fish boxes that look more like goldfish bowls and glove boxes.

On the Contenders, the decks are clean and uncluttered. There is concealed anchoring gear, pop-up navigation lights, and deck cleats, plus under-gunwale cleats below hawsepipes, recessed internal grabrails, and underfloor or in-transom fish and bait tanks. Everything you need is tucked away or built-in as an integral part of the boats.

Just as importantly, the outboard pod isn't too big on these boats, so you can clear your rod tip and keep the line away from the prop when fighting a deep slugging fish. And this, I should add, isn't so common on Yankee fishing boats that emphasise performance and, as such, go with extended outboard pods.

Custom Options

Though a production boatbuilder, Contender isn't averse to suggestions. The T-tops on the demo boats were enlarged for a little more shade from the savage summer sun. The agent is also considering shifting the centre console forward to gain more aft cockpit fishing room.

Florida-based Contender also builds long-range boats for local anglers with tickets to fish the Bahamas, Outer Banks, canyons, and so on. That helps explain why one of the first Contenders sold here went to a couple of anglers in Townsville, who intend to run 100km to their local outer reefs for better fishing.

Meanwhile, Contender importer Sam Wallrock from Wallrock Marine offers promising support. He is a marine mechanic, engineer, and Master V with 12 years of experience in the boating industry. Though he intends to establish a national dealer network in Australia, he says he will personally fit up engines and accessories consistently here.

But from what I hear, Contender isn't a yard that experiences many issues. Construction involves hand laid biaxial and triaxial cloths, foam sandwich, vinylester resin and polyurethane foam injected into the subfloor voids for stiffening, sound deadening and flotation.

The 23T is a three-piece boat, as in separate hull, deck and liner moulds, while the 23 Open is a two-piece hull. Built for rough water, the Contenders are backed by 10-year structural warranties and, on the water, are delightfully rattle and bump free.

The Vitals

The primary focus of this test is the 23T, which stands for Tournament Series. The range starts with a 21-footer (soon to be joined by a 27-footer) and ends with a 36-footer. All the boats are big for their size.

The 23T measures 25ft 3in (7.57m) overall, excluding the optional bowsprit, which wasn't fitted to the demo boat. So, despite its designation, you need to consider it a 25-footer. The 8ft 6in (2.55m) beam is 50mm over the standard towing limit of 2.5m; hence, will wide-load considerations apply. The on-road towing weight is about 2600kg dry on an aluminium Magic Tilt dual-axle four-wheel-disc braked multi roller trailer.

The 23 Open measures 23ft 3in (6.97m) overall with an 8ft 3in (2.47m) beam. With a dry towing weight of 1900kg on the aluminium Magic Tilt trailer, it will prove to be an easy tow by today's trailerboat standards.

While I'm all for four-stroke outboards, the direct-injection E-TECs were a fitting match for these boats. On the 23T, the twin 150 hp direct-injection two-strokes are built on a compact and torquey V6 block. The single E-TEC 250 hp on the 23 Open, which you can option with twin 200 hp outboards, was similarly punchy.

Rated up to twin 200 hp outboards or down to a single XXL-shaft 300 hp outboard, the 23T's twin 150 hp Evinrude E-TECS were spinning 17 x 15¼in stainless-steel Rebel props. These gave snappy acceleration right through the rev range - handy for bar work - and the boat bounded to planing speed in the blink of an eye.

The low-profile 23T hull has a huge 662 L fuel capacity that it carries down low and amidships to assist stability. In fact, the boat's surefootedness was amazing and surprising, considering its deep 24.5º deep-vee hull. The boat also features a stepped pod, big chines, and a rounded planing plank for lift.
It's a similar hull on the 23 Open, only the fuel capacity is 567 litres. Also, above the water, the 23 Open has a slightly different style, with relatively higher sides, more freeboard in the bow, and more flare in keeping with traditional Carolina-style hulls. Nice lines indeed.

Hooks, Lines but No Sinker

Clean lines and concealed fishing features are a big part of the 23T's attraction. The recessed Lenco trim tabs won't foul lines - the tabs are only needed in strong crosswinds - SeaStar hydraulic steering makes light work of helming, and I noted a very tidy local engine fit-up with clean wiring looms.

A marlin door leads out to what Contender calls a dive platform. It has a swim ladder, but as mentioned, it's not an intrusive appendage. I also noted room to mount a berley pot.

A deck hatch leads into the bilge, with big-boat bronze seacocks on the skin fittings for the live bait tank pickup, the saltwater and freshwater washdowns, and good access to the fuel filter. All the switches and breakers located inside the centre console are waterproof, and there's a high-capacity 2000gal/h or 7500lt/h bilge pump.

Both Contenders are self-draining. The deck mouldings and drains will ensure your toes stay dry and there's a subtle but grippy non-skid underfoot. The low-profile gunwales that hit at high knee level offer support when tracing or fishing with stand-up tackle.

From bow to stern, both centre consoles are true fish-around boats and just wonderfully snag-free. The bows on both boats are noticeably deeper than the transoms and feature integral grabrails for holding onto while fish fighting and tracing as the boats idle forward.

The 23T has an in-transom 189lt live bait tank, massive 530lt insulated fish box forward flanked by two additional fish or gear storage boxes with 287lt capacity, and two more underfloor storage holds back aft. Add rod, gaff or tag pole storage racks under the gunwales and details like an anchor-holding tube in the bow to prevent rattles when underway, and you have a complete fish boat indeed.

The 23 Open has three sub-floor storage or insulated fish boxes, the biggest of which will take a decent tuna. It also has an in-floor instead of in-transom live bait tank with a 114l capacity. The rod holders on both boats are heavy-duty Lee's models—the best gear.

Driving Stations

The centre consoles on the Contenders are fitted with optional leaning posts, oversized T-tops, rocket launchers, and additional rod holders on either side of the console that were plumbed to drain water. A zip-out panel in the rubber-backed bimini lets you poke the rod tips out the top when running. All told, there is storage for 10 outfits.

The boats were fitted with Rupp aluminium outriggers and Top Gun bases with internal operating mechanisms. They also had rear spotlights, a big LED cockpit night-fishing light, and wonderful anodised alloy T-top frames. The 23T had a Plexiglass windscreen, which was much appreciated in the bitter winter winds.

There's a strap under the leaning post for holding a decent icebox (a rigging centre is optional), while inside the console are things for dry storage plus the boats' battery banks, isolators and oil bottles. The wiring is nice and neat, too.

On the dash, I found multifunction engine gauges offering fuel flow and consumption data. With the NMEA 2000 interface, you can also display E-TEC engine data on your navigation screens.

The recessed electronics boxes are handy for a 10in or two 7in screens, there's room for mounting radios, and solid stainless steel steering wheels with the obligatory steering knob so you can crank the boats around effortlessly.

No Holding Back

The Contenders are purposeful-looking boats on or off the water, so I didn't hold back. The 23T, with its extra weight and half fuel load, performed brilliantly. The boat was loath to leap out of the water and spent more time cutting a path through the rough stuff.

The 23T jumped to planing speed and cruised at 20 to 21 kts at 3000 rpm while consuming 34 lt/h on both 150 hp E-TEC outboards. The boat hit a 30 to 31 kts high-speed cruise at 4000 rpm for 47 lt/h, ran up to 40 kts at 5000 rpm for 106 lt/h, and returned a top speed of 42.3 knots at 5400 rpm (it was too rough to trim the boat out and reach top revs of 5800 rpm).

The 23 Open clocked 19 to 20kts at 3000rpm, 26 to 27kts at 4000rpm, 34kts at 5000rpm and had a top speed of 43.5kts at 6000rpm back in calm water. In both cases, the ride was commensurate with that from a real pedigree and, for my money, you won't find a brace of smoother riding offshore racehorses to punt your fishing money.

What We Liked

• Superb offshore performance from a tremendous foam-filled deep-vee hull

• Excellent engineering for offshore work

• A huge range from big fuel tanks

• Seriously good fishing layout

• Plenty of features built in, out of the way, and excellent stability

• Clean, uncluttered decks and bow to stern fishing room

• Transom isn't too far from outboard motors, meaning you can clear your rod tip when fighting deep-slugging fish from a dead boat

• Revered American badge with a great reputation

• Local importer is a skilled marine mechanic and engineer, and is bound to be supportive of the product

Not So Much

• External trim tabs on the 23 Open could foul lines

• No windshield on 23 Open

• Boats could do with (optional) bowsprits

• Not a huge amount of room behind the console on the 23T

• A new brand on the market with no established second-hand market

• Centre consoles offer scant weather protection

Specifications: Contender 23T/23 Open 

The Contender 23 Tournament (23T) was fitted as a turnkey package w/ twin Evinrude 150hp E-TEC outboards; dual-axle four-wheel-disc braked multi roller trailer, rego, stamp duty; offshore safety and optional recessed console footrest; deluxe T-top w/ white light, twin spots, led night light, four rod holders, radar and antenna pads, 15-foot Rupp Top Gun outriggers and built-in Rupp radial arms for outriggers; live well plumbing; six vertical rod holders in console; telescoping boarding ladder; freshwater washdown; saltwater washdown; flush mounted electronics box; mini fixed back leaning post; removable rear bench seat; and more
 
The Contender 23 Open was again fitted as a turnkey package w/ single Evinrude 250hp E-TEC outboard; dual-axle four-wheel-disc braked multi roller trailer, rego, stamp duty; offshore safety and optional deluxe T-top w/ white light, twin spots, led night light, four rod holders, radar and antenna pads; live well plumbing; freshwater washdown; saltwater washdown; flush mounted electronics box; mini fixed back leaning post; Lenco trim tabs; and more

General

• Material: GRP with multi-axial woven rovings, composite lay-up, and foam-filled hull

• Type: True deep-vee mono

• Deadrise at transom: 24.5º

• Length overall: 7.57m/6.97m

• Beam: 2.55m/2.47m

• Draft: Approx 0.45m

• Weight: 1905kg (hull only) or 2600kg dry on road; 1270kg (hull only) or 1900kg dry on road

Capacities

• Fuel: 662lt/567lt

• Freshwater: Approx 40l for washdown

Engine/s

• Make/Model: Twin Evinrude E-Tec 150 hp outboards/single Evinrude E-Tec 250 hp outboard

• Rated HP: 2 x 150/ 1 x 250 at 4500 to 5500rpm

• Type: V6 direct-injection two-strokes

• Displacement (ea): 2.589lt/3.3lt

• Weight (ea): 190kg/240kg

• Drives and props: 25in XL with 17in SS Rebel props

Supplied By: Wallrock Marine

Ready to Set Sail? 

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This article was written by David Lockwood and photos provided by John Ford - Coastcolour and previously appeared at TradeaBoat.com.au, now powered by Only Boats.

Originally published in TrailerBoat #223

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