31 Contender for Sale, a Buyer's Guide to the 31 Tournament

Why buyers still hunt for a 31 Contender for sale

Ask a South Florida kingfish captain to name the boat that defined the tournament center console and many will say the Contender 31. Sport Fishing put it plainly when it tested the smaller Contender 27: say the name Contender and most people instantly think of the massive 31. In its review of the cabin-equipped 31 Fish-Around, the same magazine wrote that many professional guides and hard-core owners rank the Contender 31 at the top of the list of 31-foot outboard offshore fishing boats.

That reputation is why the search for a 31 Contender for sale remains strong years after the model left the lineup. Buyers want the ride and the tournament credibility of the Contender name at a fraction of the price of a new stepped ST model, and the 31 is the most common route there.

Contender, founded by Joe Neber in 1984 and based in Homestead, Florida, built the 31 in several forms. Its 2009 and 2010 website listed the 31-T (Tournament), 31-C (Cuddy) and 31-F (Fish Around) as current models, while a dropdown of earlier models included the 31 Open, 31 Cuddy and 31 Fisharound. The 31 Tournament is the open center console version, and it shared its published dimensions with the 31 Open.

Open, Tournament, Cuddy or Fish-Around, sorting the 31 family

Contender's archived spec pages give the clearest picture of the family. The 31 Tournament and the 31 Open are both listed at 32 feet 7 inches overall, 9 feet 8 inches of beam, a 23-inch draft, a dry weight of about 5,850 pounds, about 11,560 pounds ready to fish, 310 gallons of fuel and a 700 hp maximum, all on a 24.5-degree deep-V. The overall length figure includes the integral platform, which is why a 31 measures more than 32 feet.

The 31 Cuddy and 31 Fish Around use a different set of numbers: 32 feet 6 inches long with a 9-foot-4-inch beam, an 18-inch draft and a 600 hp rating, with 240 gallons of fuel on the Cuddy and 245 on the Fish Around. Those boats trade fuel and deck space for a small cabin. The Fish Around in particular added an enclosed electric head with shower, twin bunks forward, a dinette table and a galley with refrigerator.

When you see a used listing called a Contender 31 Open, 31T or 31 Tournament, confirm which deck and fuel tank it has by checking the console, the in-deck boxes and the fuel capacity on the plate or the factory hull identification records. Listings are often inconsistent.

• 31 Tournament and 31 Open: 32 ft 7 in LOA, 9 ft 8 in beam, 310 gal, 700 hp max
• 31 Cuddy: 32 ft 6 in LOA, 9 ft 4 in beam, 240 gal, 600 hp max
• 31 Fish Around: 32 ft 6 in LOA, 9 ft 4 in beam, 245 gal, 600 hp max, cabin with head and galley

A solid deep-V bottom before Contender went stepped

The 31 predates Contender's shift to stepped bottoms, which began in the late 2000s with models like the 33 ST. Its hull is a conventional, unbroken 24.5-degree deep-V. That has two practical consequences. First, it turns and backs down like a traditional hull, without the occasional quirks some early stepped boats showed in hard turns. Second, it is somewhat less efficient at high speed than Contender's later ST models, which the company says gained meaningful mileage from the steps.

Sport Fishing described the construction of the 31 Fish-Around as Klegecell-cored topsides and decks over a solid bi-axial and tri-axial fiberglass bottom, which keeps weight low for a stable ride. The archived Contender standard equipment list for the 31 Tournament adds hand-laid fiberglass with multidirectional fabric, a foam-cored solid glass stringer system, foam flotation, a self-bailing cockpit and a heavy-duty rub rail.

In rough water the 31 earns its reputation. Sport Fishing ran the Fish-Around in six-foot seas offshore of Miami and reported a deadened, cushioned landing and a hull that would take more abuse than its passengers. The 9-foot-8-inch beam of the Tournament gives it a bit more roll resistance than the narrower Cuddy and Fish Around.

Speed and fuel burn, with an honest caveat

Contender's 2010 website posted a performance page for the 31 Open with twin Yamaha 250 EFI outboards, 175 gallons of fuel, a T-top, outriggers and two people aboard. It showed 30.1 mph at 3,500 rpm on 14.0 gph (2.14 mpg), 41.5 mph at 4,500 rpm on 22.1 gph, and a top speed of 52.2 mph at 5,800 rpm on 38.2 gph. Boats planed in about 4.8 seconds.

Treat that table as approximate. Contender's 31 Cuddy and 31 Fish Around pages carried the identical speed and fuel figures while listing 225 hp engines, which suggests the data was reused across the family rather than measured on each model. The independent number to trust is Sport Fishing's run in the 31 Fish-Around, which made 56 mph on twin Yamaha 250s and returned about 1.5 mpg at cruise.

On modern twin 300 hp four-strokes, which many owners have since installed, expect a little more top speed and similar or better economy at cruise. With 310 gallons in the tank, the Tournament carries more fuel than most 31-foot consoles of its era, which is a big reason it became a canyon and Bahamas boat.

The tournament deck, box by box

Contender's standard list for the 31 Tournament reads like a kingfish team's wish list. Forward there is a 130-gallon lined and insulated fish box and a second 96-gallon insulated box, aft there are two 60-gallon insulated fish boxes, and under-deck rod lockers run along both sides. Twin 40-gallon livewells sit above deck in the transom (plumbing was not included in the base boat), and a full transom with door and integral dive platform makes landing big fish easier.

The walk-in, step-down console has a head compartment, a large bi-fold lockable electronics box and lockable storage. Recessed pop-up bow light, pop-up bow cleat, recessed aluminum bow handrail, four Lee's flush-mount rod holders, K-Plane trim tabs, hydraulic steering and a 2,000 gph bilge pump complete the base boat. Many used boats will have added a T-top, leaning post with tackle center, outriggers and extra rod holders, since most were ordered with options.

Because these hulls were raced and fished hard, the deck you buy reflects the owners before you. Look for neat rigging, sealed hardware and dry storage compartments as signs of a careful history.

Buying an older 31 without regrets

Most 31 Tournaments on the market today are well into their second decade. Budget for a thorough survey with moisture readings, a compression and lower unit check on both outboards and a close look at the fuel system. The 310-gallon tank is a major cost if it needs replacement, so ask about its age, fittings and any history of water in the fuel.

Expect to pay roughly $45,000 to $125,000 in 2026, with engine age and condition the main variable. A tidy hull with recent twin four-strokes is often the best value per dollar in the 30-foot offshore class, because you get a tournament-proven bottom for the price of a new 24-foot bay boat. Annual running costs of $10,000 to $22,000 cover insurance, storage, routine outboard service and fuel for a typical season.

If you want the Contender ride with a warranty, the current Contender 32ST or 30ST is the modern equivalent, but at three to five times the price.