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TOURNAMENT READY
CONTENDER’S NEW 27T CAN COMPETE ON
THE TOUGHEST TOURNAMENT CIRCUIT,
OR HANDLE WEEKEND FAMILY FISHING.
BY JOHN BROWNLEE
Contender totally redesigned their popular 27-footer when they went to the drawing board to create the new 27T, and although the old one was a great boat, the new version is clearly better.With a new hull design, a better interior layout, and a wealth of options to choose from to customize your personal boat, the 27T leaves little to be desired.
Contender center consoles have always exuded an aura of no-nonsense purpose, since at a glance you know that they’re designed with fishing in mind. The boats come with a level deck design from the stern to the bow, with no step-up to trip over while fighting a fish, and they also come with plentiful rod storage, livewell, and fish box capacity built in.You basically just need to add whatever personal touches you desire, and go fishing.
I ran the 27T off of Islamorada, Florida, courtesy of Contender’s Florida Keys dealer, Caribee Boat Sales. A thorough inspection of the boat revealed a lot of familiar Contender features, and some new and interesting surprises. The most notable difference is a totally new console and helm area. The new console features a unique helm pod molded into the aft helm area, where the wheel and throttles mount. This new pod not only gives the boat a truly custom look, it also adds a measure of functionality, because the wheel is mounted almost vertically, making steering easy, and creating extra walk-through space between the leaning post and the helm. The console features Contender’s usual recessed space for mounting electronics, an area that’s protected from the elements by locking acrylic doors, a design I find exceptionally practical. The forward end of the console is different too, with radiused edges and a new forward console seat that lifts via gas rams to afford access into the sub-console storage/ head area.You can order the boat with or without the head below—serious anglers may want the extra storage space created by foregoing the head, while others may want the peace of mind a built-in head brings. It’s up to you. Like other Contenders, the 27T features lots of vertical rod storage along the sides of the console.
At the stern, the 27T has two livewells built into the transom bulkhead. Our test boat had a clear acrylic lid on one, and a solid fiberglass lid on the other. Once again, you can order the boat any way you want. Contender’s signature transom door lies to starboard, a beefy gate with a massive latch that looks like it belongs on a 50-footer rather than an outboard boat. Inner hull access comes via a centerline hatch in the deck, and a removable passenger seat attaches to the transom bulkhead when needed.
Two fish boxes lie sub-deck, outboard of the center, and these boxes will hold a lot of fish, including a large tuna or wahoo. The 27T I tested had a leaning post from Bluewater Towers, with an interesting fiberglass box beneath it that combined a cooler with tackle storage in one compact unit. It was the first such combo I have seen, but it’s an eminently practical idea. The leaning post had a four-rod rocket launcher, a fixed seat back, and a couple of drink holders as well.
Forward of the console, a large open
bow area makes fishing a breeze. Coaming
pads run all the way around the boat, and a
low profile bow rail forward provides a sure
handhold. The gunwale height is just right
too, ensuring that even shorter people can
pass a rod around the bow. Four large indeck
storage boxes provide a large amount
of space for storing loose gear, or you can
use one or more of them for an additional
fish box, if needed. An anchor locker at the
bow stores a Danforth anchor vertically.
When you drive the 27T, you really
notice the difference between the new and
old boats. The previous 27 rode with a
slightly "bow up" attitude, but the new
deep-vee hull comes on plane instantly
with absolutely no bow rise, and runs very
level, even with no tabs applied. It tracks
well, turns in a very tight and controlled
manner, and cuts down chop effortlessly.
It's an extremely smooth and dry boat.
Twin F250 Yamaha four-strokes push the
27T to an impressive top speed of 61 mph
at 5900 rpm.A leisurely cruise speed of 46
mph at 4500 rpm provides excellent economy,
as you're only burning 26 gph.
Contender has built another in a long line of extremely practical fishing boats. Their boats offer style, outstanding performance, and excellent engineering, and that’s a combination that many serious center console owners find hard to beat.