44 Contender ST Review, the Mega Console That Refuses to Go Soft

The 44 Contender that chose fish over furniture

By the late 2010s, most builders of 40-foot-plus center consoles had filled their decks with forward lounges, mezzanine seating, outdoor galleys and televisions. When Contender introduced its flagship 44 ST in 2019, it went the other way. Sport Fishing's first review described an expansive, level deck left wide open and dedicated to fishing, and Boating called it a big center console that forsakes frills in favor of hardcore offshore fishing.

That choice defines the 44 Contender. Owners can still order a second row of helm seats, a forward lounge, bow seating and upgraded upholstery, because every Contender is semi-custom. But the standard boat is a tournament platform first. Contender's own site calls it the most feared and revered center console in tournament fishing, and its marketing leans into a flagship that outpaces and outfishes rivals.

The buyers proved Contender right. Contender's Jordan DeLong told Sport Fishing in 2019 that about half the early orders came from owners of the 39 ST, which at the time numbered roughly 180 boats. The 44 ST was the natural next step for a loyal fleet.

Hull, beam and the numbers three magazines agree on

Contender lists the 44 ST at 43 feet 10 inches with a 12-foot beam, a 27-inch draft, 22.7 degrees of deadrise at the transom, 600 gallons of fuel with an optional extra 100 gallons, 50 gallons of fresh water and a ready-to-fish weight of 22,300 pounds. Boating's test specification sheet gave 12 feet 1 inch of beam, a 2-foot-3-inch draft, 19,600 pounds with power and 8 feet 6 inches of bridge clearance with the hardtop only.

Power ratings vary by source. Contender's website now quotes a 1,800 hp maximum, while Boating, Sport Fishing's 2019 review and its 2024 buyers guide all list 2,000 hp. Either way, triple or quad Yamaha XTO outboards are the usual installation. The integral engine bracket gives a full transom, and boats ordered with quad engines get an enclosed transom with a side dive door.

The bottom is a twin-step deep-V. The deadrise is lower than the 24.5 degrees on Contender's smaller ST models, a trade that helps lift and stability on a heavier boat. Sport Fishing's 2021 guide noted that the 44 ST shares its hull with the 44 FA (Fish Around), which arrived a year later with a cabin, and Contender's lineup now also includes the 44 CB.

Triple Yamaha 425 XTO test data

Sport Fishing, Salt Water Sportsman and Boating all published the same instrumented results from a 2019 test with triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards, 400 gallons of fuel, five adults and 110 gallons of water in the livewells. The boat reached 30 mph in 12 seconds and topped out at 65 mph at 6,000 rpm, burning 109 to 110 gallons per hour for 0.6 mpg.

Best efficiency came at 4,000 rpm and 37 mph, where the three XTOs burned 46 gph for 0.8 mpg, translating to a range of more than 430 miles on 90 percent of the 600-gallon tank. Sport Fishing's 2024 buyers guide quoted a maximum range of 491 miles at 0.91 mpg and 3,500 rpm on the same triple 425 XTO power. Contender says quad XTOs improve both speed and efficiency, but we have not seen independent numbers for a quad boat.

Testers reported a smooth, comfortable ride in two- to three-foot seas, a flat running attitude and excellent backing down without water coming over the transom or through the scuppers, which matters when a crew is chasing a sailfish off the stern. Boating's test boat swung Yamaha XTO OS 17 7/8 by 23-inch three-blade stainless props and used Yamaha Helm Master joystick steering for docking.

A deck measured in feet, not inches

Numbers from the reviews make the point. The aft deck is more than 12 feet wide and 8 1/2 feet long. The bow runs 16 feet from the front of the console to the anchor locker and is 10 feet across at its widest. Walkways beside the console are 31 inches wide, and gunwales are 28 inches high at the stern and bow. Sport Fishing's crew went seven for nine on sailfish during the test, including a quadruple hookup, with no tangles.

Contender's standard list includes a 340-gallon forward fish box, a 315-gallon secondary forward box or dry storage compartment, two 110-gallon aft fish boxes, under-deck rod lockers, a console front seat with cooler or a forward lounge, and two 55-gallon transom livewells fed by a stainless pump box with two 1,500 gph pumps. The test boat added a 110-gallon well in the aft deck and a 40-gallon well forward, and Sport Fishing's 2021 guide mentioned a 125-gallon in-deck well option. A third transom well is also on the options list.

Under the bow, an upholstered stowage module tilts up on a motorized lift to expose a cavernous compartment, where the test crew kept helium tanks for kite balloons.

• Aft deck: more than 12 ft wide by 8.5 ft long
• Bow: 16 ft from console to anchor locker, 10 ft wide
• Walkways 31 in wide, gunwales 28 in high
• Fish boxes 340 and 315 gal forward, 2 x 110 gal aft; 2 x 55 gal transom wells

A low dash and a console with a real head

Contender designed the helm with a deliberately low profile. The 56-inch-wide dash panel was sized to take two 24-inch Garmin displays, yet Boating noted that it sits lower than on similar consoles, so the skipper can see over it easily. A wraparound polycarbonate windshield protects three-across adjustable Llebroc helm seats with flip-up bolsters. The test boat's tower and second station carried a 10-inch Garmin display networked to the main helm.

Inside, the step-down console is reached through a port-side companionway and offers 6 feet 4 inches of headroom, a flush toilet, vanity and sink, and teak flooring. Contender's current standard list specifies an XL M-Series console with Isinglass enclosure, a teak interior with sink and shower, Corian counters and an electric head with Y-valve. It is not a cabin, but it is a proper place to change and clean up after a long day.

Boating's testers wanted a foldout transom bench for long runs and a helm footrest, both of which Contender can add.

Who buys a 44 ST and what it costs to keep

The typical buyer is a tournament angler or serious offshore owner, often moving up from a 39 ST, who wants range and fishing space rather than a floating patio. Boating compared it with Grady-White's Canyon 456, which then cost about $1.4 million with quad 425 XTOs and came packed with a Seakeeper, a posh cabin and a bow social area. The Contender's $646,583 base price at launch, with three engines, reflected the opposite philosophy.

Running costs are big-boat numbers. At the tested best cruise of 46 gph, a 100-mile round trip uses well over 250 gallons once you add trolling time. Budget $45,000 to $95,000 a year for fuel, insurance, a slip or lift, service on three or four XTOs, bottom paint, electronics and canvas, more for a crewed tournament schedule.

The used market for a 44 Contender

Because the model only dates to 2019, the used market is young and prices hold well. Expect roughly $550,000 for an early triple-engine boat and up to about $1.15 million for a nearly new quad-engine boat with a tower. Hours on the XTOs, warranty transferability, tower condition and whether the boat has a Seakeeper or Helm Master EX matter more than the model year. Check the capacity plate and engine configuration, because quad boats have a different transom arrangement.