Contender Boats

[bugger]

I am looking for peoples opinion of a 23' 2004 Contender w/ 300hp HPDI.

I currently own a 20' Grady White and am looking to upsize to a 23' with a more open deck.

I love the Grady White quality. The boat is as solid as a rock. There are no squeeks or loose hinges, doors etc rattling around. But the layout is a little less for the fisherman than a Contender or Regulator etc.

I like the Regulator as well but they seem to be more expensive than Contenders.

Does anyone have a basis of comparison between the GW and Contender?

[scruffy_fish]

Bugger,
I haven't owned either boat but have been on both. IMHO the Contender is a nice float. I was on a 23' Contender last summer in FL, with a 250 Merc, although the sea was like a mirror when we left the dock, on the way in it kicked up with a sudden storm coming. The Contender cut though the chop and was a dry ride as we plowed through 20 miles of ruff water.

I think the GW is a heavier boat with a little more beam. More fuel costs?
As with most decisions you’ll have to look at what best fits your needs.

[joshr]

Very different boats. The Contender is a true Deep V and will ride better than the Grady in slop. The Grady is a 20 deg. deadrise hull and will be more stable on drift. The Contender will also run considerably faster FWIW. BTW, the Contender 23 is a small 23, whereas their 25 is a large 25 (one is measured to the transom, the other to the end of the integrated bracket). The Contender 23 has a little less beam than your Grady and most other 23s for that matter, and I find it feels a little cramped because of it. I prefer the Regulator 23 to the Contender--prefer the layout and prefer all the extra weight...won't run as fast, but it's a tank and will handle seas better. If you're buying a 24.5 deg. deadrise hull, presumably you are going to be out in sloppy open water, so I say go for the more overbuilt hull--way more valuable IMO than the speed you get from the SKA/speed oriented Contender design. If you are fishing mostly bays and inshore, maybe reconsider the offshore hull design altogether and get a Whaler, Grady, Pursuit, Edgewater type boat etc.

Also, you don't need to hang a 300hp engine on the Contender 23...250 is more than enough. A good friend o fmine runs twin 100 4 strokes on one and easily does low 40s mph even with only 200hp and the drag of the extra shaft. I'm sure a single 250 will push it well over 50 mph at WOT.

[soundownsam]

Are you looking at the old style Contender 23 or the new 23 tournament. Both are good boats, neither, will see a real world 50 with a 250. I have not fished either 23, however, I have extensively fished the 25 and 31's both fun fishing and tournament fishing. If there is a weak spot in the Contender line up it is the old 23 based on its 2 piece construction and relativelength compared to the other boats.

That being said I think that either 23 Contender will wupp the Grady in a chop. The Grady will be faster with the same HP as it has less deadrise.

Sam