Despite her considerable dimensions, at 44-feet in length- the 44FA from Contender displays nimble performance rated capabilities.
December 31, 2020
By George LaBonte
Since the beginning of this company's existence, Contender has been a dominant force in the competitive fishing world. The brand remains highly regarded for both exceptional big weather performance and fishability. The consumer demands to go further and faster in what are often less than hospitable sea conditions have been met head on with the new 44FA.
This design offers all of the performance traits of the original 44ST with some notable comfort upgrades added to accommodate anglers who spend the night offshore or weekends in the islands. A queen berth below along with galley sink, refrigerator/freezer, range top and fully enclosed head with a shower are available to take the edge off. Even if it's just a break from the tropical heat in ice cold air- this cabin is comfortable without dominating valuable work space on deck.
Despite her considerable dimensions, at 44-feet in length- the 44FA from Contender displays nimble performance rated capabilities.
At the helm, three-across custom Llebroc seating look across a pair of XL Garmin displays at the extremely wide and comfortable sun pad over the foredeck. Entry to the cabin below is via a rear-facing door to Port adjacent to the helm eliminating any obstruction around the console while underway. A second triple wide row of seating behind the Llebrocs is under the shade top and backs up to the cockpit tackle storage and rigging center. A wide Frigid Rigid cooler on a powered track offers rear facing seating when deployed and storage for lots of drinks and provisions.
The 44FA lacks nothing in the fishing department between matching 55-gallon livewells on the transom and a third Jacuzzi sized well in the cockpit deck- a 300-gallon insulated fish hold forward and another pair of 200-gallon boxes aft- she's ready to compete at the highest level. Add your own personal touches to the deck layout and rigging and the possibilities are without limit.
Although the 44FA is rated for up to 2000 HP- our test model with triple 425 XTO power ran easily into the mid-sixties offering just under a mile per gallon at cruising speed. More importantly she was capable of delivering those numbers comfortably through some fresh winds and less than ideal conditions- another check in the plus column for a brand that always seems to turn up on the leaderboard.
VIDEO
Length: 43-10 Beam: 12-0 Draft: 27” Deadrise: 22.7 degree Weight: 22,500 fish ready Max HP: 2000 Fuel: 575 Base price: 633,103- www.contenderboats.com
A view from above reveals the true scope of how much area your spread can cover on a boat this large.
This flagship offering from Contender at 22,500-pounds is rated for up to 2000-HP yet still performs flawlessly over 60-MPH with triple 425’s leaving plenty in reserve at an easy 40-MPH cruise speed.
A double wide Sun Lounge allows reclining for two without interfering with the fishing workspace.
A large cockpit becomes especially useful when trolling moves everyone to the back of the boat- clearly this cockpit features room for everyone.
There is no shortage of comfortable seating or shade to be found beneath this oversized hard top.
Plenty of room for extra rods is available above this wide tackle storage locker and rigging station.
A pair of 55-gallon livewells across the transom should handle more than enough tournament bait but the 44FA adds another industrial sized tank in the cockpit deck to double this capacity.
A place to sit for a minute and soak up some air conditioned comfort or a queen berth are both at your disposal down below.
A galley below complete with a refrigerator/freezer makes overnight adventures more comfortable.
A convenient out of the way location to store a raft and first aid equipment is located under the cabin seating.
Every bit of usable space is accounted for and utilized on the 44FA above and below deck.
Hot meals make a weekend escape away from civilization more enjoyable- subsequently, this Kenyon electric range top becomes a smart addition to the galley amenities.
The console cabin on the Contender 44FA includes plenty of space for this fully enclosed private head and shower.
