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Contender 33 Tournament
By Marshall Brodie
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Not just a stretched out 31 model, but all new from the bottom up
Let’s face it. Owning a Contender is good for your
ego. I’ve seen it happen, hanging out with the guys
and the subject of boats comes up and who has
what. Someone then mentions that they own a Contender and
seemingly almost on cue, there are unanimous nods of approval
– letting that person know they have one of the premier boats
on market. Sweet. Such is the following of Contender that
when they come out with a new boat, it is bound to generate
considerable interest. Case in point: Contender’s new 33
Tournament. This boat was introduced last February at the Miami
International Boat Show and already production is backlogged
because of demand.
The Contender 33T is particularly noteworthy because it is
not just a stretched out 31. Rather it is an all-new boat from the
bottom up. It represents the latest thinking from Contender with
new features that will eventually be expanded to other models in
its product line.
Still, there is no mistaking the new 33T for anything but
a Contender with a strong family resemblance to the rest of
the line. In fact, only the Contender faithful will recognize
the differences. But the hull is all new with wider strakes and
recessed trim tabs, the console is wider, the leaning post is
bigger and all compartment lids now have a smooth finish to the
underside and a molded-in receiver for a gasket.
The heart and soul of any Contender is its deep-V hull. The
33T is no exception with 24.5-degrees of deadrise, but it also
carries a wider beam and has wider strakes for more lift. The 33T
slots in nicely between Contender’s 31 and 36, like the 31 it can
run with twin outboards but can also carry triples like the 36.
Like other Contenders, the hull is strong but lightweight.
The hull bottom is solid fiberglass and the sides above the
waterline are cored with balsa. The stringers and transom are
cored with Divinycell while the cap and liner are cored with
Kledgecell. Vinylester resins are used throughout the lamination
process and the deck and cap are puttied, tabbed and glassed in
place to the hull. The bottom line is that this boat will take a lot
of abuse and not fall apart.
Bill Cordes of Contender says that sales so far are split
50/50 between twin and triple power options. With twin
Yamaha F250 four-stroke outboards, the 33T will get 1.2 mpg
at 53 mph and, at around 29 mph, fuel economy approaches an
impressive1.9 mpg, according to a Yamaha performance bulletin.
Put triple F250s on the back and the 33 will squeeze out 1.5
mpg at about 43 mph with a top end of 58.4 mph at just less
than 1 mpg. If speed is what you want, then triple Yamaha 300
horsepower HPDIs is the way to go, the 33T will then run in the
mid-60s.
Stepping onboard the 33T dockside at Miami Beach Marina,
I was impressed by the new larger console and room around it
from the boat’s nine-foot eight-inch beam. The console is larger
than previous versions with room for an electric head inside.
When operating a boat, I like to sit for a while and then stand,
either way, the new pod mounted steering wheel and controls
were convenient to use. Recessed electrical switches
line the front of the pod with angled nameplates for
easy readability. More room was also given for
electronics displays so that the dash can accommodate
up two 10-inch panels. The standard bench seat at the front
side of the console can be ordered optionally
as a livewell. A garage style flip-up door at the
front of the console opens up for access to the head, fire
extinguishers (I would like to see them mounted elsewhere
for faster access), batteries, electrical panels and more for easy
service. Headroom inside the console is five-feet four-inches.
The leaning post is all-new as well. This unit is longer and
wider too. It features a 48-gallon live well, two tackle boxes with
three drawers each, six Lee rod holders and two drink holders.
The livewell can also serve as a drink cooler when not used for
bait. Even with the extended leaning post, there is nearly fivefeet
of aft cockpit space, plenty for two or three anglers. Two
below deck fish boxes lie in the aft deck. A lazarette hatch gives
access to the bilge and livewell pumps, water separators and
seacocks. All in-floor hatches have gutters and drains.
The transom contains two live wells as well. The heavy
clear lids have a rubber gasket to help seal the water in.
However, if some leaks out, a deep gutter drains the water
out through a hose that goes out through transom. A starboard
transom door gives access to the engine platform. Overall, the
33T is a serious fishing boat in every respect.
The forward fish boxes have room for some serious bounty.
A 10-foot by 24-inch deep fish box resides under the center
of the foredeck. It is flanked by two shallower 12-foot storage
compartments that are ideal for rod storage. To maximize space,
these two compartments do not have a smooth gelcoated liner
like all other compartments on the boat. Locking latches for the
hatches will secure the rods. Immediately in front of the console
is a large 24- by 32-inch insulated cooler under the deck good
for stowing all of the extra gear that seems to accumulate on a
fishing boat.
The anchor locker on the forepeak stows a Danforth type
anchor in a sturdy tube like other Contender models. Twin
stereo speakers mount on the front bulkhead of the anchor
compartment. Though the exposed wires are soldered to the
speaker terminals, they are subject to being pulled off by the
anchor rode and chain. I think some sort of protective cover
needs to be installed to protect the wire. Otherwise, all wiring
and plumbing onboard is neatly and securely installed.
Government Cut was just a minute away where Cordes
powered up the 33T that belongs to Matt Neber of Contender.
Neber has already had fishing tournament success with this
boat. The triple Yamaha 300s brought the Contender up on plane
effortlessly with little bow rise. In seconds we were heading out the
cut at 50 mph in comfort. Seas were 2-3 feet with a few four-footers
thrown in to the mix. The Contender took everything in stride. I
didn’t hear any creaks or feel any shudders when this boat hit a
wave. The T-top was rock steady and the boat always felt stable
and predictable at high speeds. Re-entry was nearly always soft.
This 33T seemed to stay hooked up to the water better than some
other boats in this class with the props rarely coming out of the
water. Teleflex power steering is standard with triple outboard
installations and makes handling the 33T easy. There was no
fighting the steering wheel, whether we had a head, beam or
were running down sea.
All Contenders come with few standard features on the
base boat. Cordes says Contender would rather have customers
order their boats exactly the way they want them for their uses,
whether that is hardcore offshore fishing or just bragging about
their boat to their friends.
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