Contender’s 44 Fish Around rides on a twin-stepped hull that knifes smoothly through rough seas and handles with confidence-inspiring precision. The 12-foot beam provides excellent stability when fishing.
Courtesy Contender Boats
First Impressions
Location: Miami, Florida
Timing: Late fall
Weather: Sunny, winds W 10-15 mph, 2- to 3-foot chop
Load: Six adults, 350 gal. fuel, 100 gal. water
Contender’s 44 Fish Around offers features that bluewater anglers crave, along with a cabin and accommodations that enable multiday offshore-fishing trips.
The 44FA can carry plenty of live bait thanks to twin pressurized 55-gallon transom livewells. You can also order the boat with an 80- or 100-gallon deck well.
Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing
On the fish side, the 44FA comes with twin 55-gallon transom livewells with an 80- or 100-gallon deck well available as a custom option, a 300-gallon forward fish box, and a pair of 100-gallon fish lockers under the aft deck.
Read Next: Contender Boats 44 ST Boat Review
Cabin amenities include a queen-size V-berth; galley with sink and freshwater faucet, refrigerator/freezer and electric cooktop; and enclosed head with a vanity, sink, faucet, electric marine toilet and stand-up shower.
The 44FA cabin features 6 feet, 8 inches of headroom, a queen-size V-berth, galley, and enclosed head with an electric marine toilet and a stand-up shower. A Bowmar hatch above the V-berth ushers in light and cooling breezes.
Courtesy Contender Boats
Triple Yamaha 425 XTOs rocket the twin-stepped hull to a top speed of 65 mph at 5,500 rpm, where the three engines burn 112.5 gallons per hour for 0.58 mpg. At 3,500 rpm and 36 mph, the 44FA achieves optimal fuel efficiency of 0.87 mpg, equating to about 450 miles of cruising range, based on 90 percent of the 575-gallon fuel capacity.
The forward-console cabin is topped by a lounger for two. The foot of the lounger features a 130-quart cooler beneath. Recessed handrails bracket the bow area.
Courtesy Contender Boats
A companionway on the port side of the helm leads to 44FA’s cabin. The dash offers enough room for a pair of Garmin 24-inch multifunction displays.
Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing
Three-across Llebroc helm seats offer outstanding comfort. The 44FA is also available with second-row seating for three additional crew members.
Courtesy Contender Boats
The 44FA’s freeboard height provides plenty of security for crew members, yet is also low enough to allow for an easy release of species such as sailfish.
Scott Salyers / Sport Fishing
Jordan DeLong of Contender Boats proves that the 44FA is also effective at wreck fishing. This amberjack was release after a few quick photos.
Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing
Bob Rogers of Contender Boats proudly hoists a flag yellowtail snapper. He caught it as the 44FA drifted over a wreck off of the upper Florida Keys.
Jim Hendricks / Sport Fishing
Powered by three Yamaha 425 XTO outboards, a fully loaded 44FA can gallop from 0 to 30 mph in 12 seconds and reach 65 at 5,500 rpm. Maximum cruising range is approximately 450 miles.
Courtesy Contender Boats
Performance
Engines: Triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards
Time to 30 mph: 12 sec.
Top Speed: 65 mph @ 5,500 rpm
Best MPG: 0.87 mpg @ 36 mph (3,500 rpm)
Hull
LOA: 43 ft. 10 in.
Beam: 12 ft.
Transom Deadrise: 22.7 deg. DRAFT: 2 ft. 3 in. WEIGHT: 22, 500 lb. (ready to fish)
Fuel: 575 gal.
Max HP: 2,000
Base Price: $665,980 (base with triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards)
Contender Boats
Homestead, Florida
contenderboats.com
