After spending eight seasons on four different teams in the NFL and winning two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, former wide receiver Domenik Hixon hung up his cleats and became a charter fishing captain in Pensacola, Florida. We caught up with him to find out about trading touchdowns for tuna.

You played for Denver, New York, Charlotte and Chicago? Did you have a favorite place to play?

Coming out of college, I just wanted an opportunity so I felt happy to play anywhere in the NFL. I played for eight seasons in the NFL. I was definitely blessed to be in the league for so long and spend so much time with a quality organization like the New York Giants.

Do you have a favorite NFL moment?

Definitely winning Super Bowl 42 [with the New York Giants in 2008]. I was cut by the Broncos after four games that season and I thought about retirement before the Giants picked me up.

When did you move to Pensacola, Florida?

In 2012, towards the end of my playing career, I bought a house there. My dad was in the Army and I was born and raised in Germany. We moved back to the States when I was in eighth grade and we’d visit near Pensacola where my dad grew up and we’d go fishing. So I always liked the area.

When did you decide to become a charter captain?

It was an excuse to have a boat! After I finished up playing football, you try to make that transition to something else. I enjoy fishing and meeting people. I had a buddy who chartered in the Florida Keys and I went out with him and picked his brain.

What kind of boat do you run now?

I run a 33 Contender with twin Suzuki 350s. For us in the Gulf of Mexico, the name of the game is range. With 450 gallons of fuel and those Suzukis, we can run a long way.

What is your favorite type of fishing?

Fishing for yellowfin tuna or blue marlin, being out by the oil rigs. I’ve been live-baiting for blue marlin, it’s just a flat-out challenge.

How does the excitement of hooking a blue marlin in a tournament compare with stepping on the football field?

It’s close. You’ve got that team atmosphere on the boat and it’s a lot of excitement and fun.

Read Next: Boating With Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr.

Do you like to be on the water when you’re not fishing?

My wife loves to drive the boat. We take sunset cruises and look for dolphin and stop at dockside restaurants.

I bet owning a boat is a good way to get your old teammates to visit.

Oh yeah, I’ve taken a few of them out on the boat. It’s always a great time. And there’s comedic relief when your really strong friend from the NFL is sweating and struggling to real in an 8-pound snapper.

The post Former NFL Player Domenik Hixon is a Successful Charter Fishing Captain appeared first on Boating Mag.

Greg Poland Photography

Big center-console boats—models ranging from 35 to more than 40 feet in length—are ­taking over in warm places such as Florida where cabins seem superfluous. With a larger center-­console comes lots of deck room, and many boatbuilders fill it with cruising amenities such as forward lounges, sun pads, mezzanine seating and more.

Yet the Contender 44 ST resists, instead leaving most of the deck clear for the original purpose of this genre—saltwater fishing.

Greg Poland Photography

To be fair, you can order the 44 ST with a second row of comfy helm seating, and the forward console seating can be extended with a stowage module/cooler that features an inviting padded lounger on top. A motorized lift tilts up the module to access a cavernous compartment underneath. Each boat is built to the buyer’s specifications. So, depending on how you order it from Contender’s ­Homestead, Florida, factory, the 44 ST might not be so spartan.

But the boat we tested was a tournament-grade offshore-fishing machine that dispensed with most frills. A twin-stepped hull provides remarkable lift and a consistently flat running attitude. Our test boat boasted triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards for power, but you can also order quad 425 XTOs. Yamaha Helm Master joystick steering helps you easily dock the big center-console.

The 44 ST rode smooth and comfy in 2- to 3-foot seas. With an integral engine bracket and full transom, the 44 ST backed down with nary a drop of water over the stern. The boat feels rock-solid in the rough stuff, and the fit and finish are second to none.

Greg Poland Photography

With central steering on the console, the 44 ST boasts a 56-inch-wide dash panel that, on our boat, accommodated a pair of Garmin’s GPSMap 8624 multifunction displays networked with a Garmin GSD 26 chirp sonar and a GMR 1224 xHD2 open-array radar. The dash sits lower than similarly sized center-consoles, allowing the helmsman to easily see over the top. Three-across adjustable Llebroc helm seats offered flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests. Our test boat also featured an optional anodized aluminum tower with a second station. A Garmin GPSMap 7610 10-inch display aloft is networked with the displays at the main helm. The tower was equipped with a pair of optional Lee carbon-fiber outriggers.

The bait-prep/tackle station included a 200-quart Frigid Rigid cooler below that slides in and out at the press of button. A rack of seven rod holders stretched across the top of the station. A pair 55-gallon transom livewells and two deck wells—a ­110-gallon tank in the aft deck and a ­40-gallon well in the foredeck—provide beau coup bait capacity.

Want to compare boats? Grady-White’s Canyon 456 ($1.4 million with quad Yamaha 425 XTOs) takes the opposite approach. It is packed with frills, from a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer and posh cabin to mezzanine seating in the cockpit and a bow social center. It’s all standard, and this (along with four outboards versus three on the base Contender) accounts for the big price difference.

Greg Poland Photography

The wide-open bow of the 44 ST extends 16 feet from the front of the console to the anchor locker and is 10 feet across at its widest point. The step-down console interior is accessible via a companionway on the port side. It offers 6 feet, 4 inches of headroom, a flush toilet, vanity and sink, and teak flooring. The aft deck measures over 12 feet wide and 8½ feet long to accommodate a group of anglers. Walkways 31 inches wide aside the console make it easy to follow a hooked fish toward the bow. Padded coaming bolsters encircle the interior to cushion legs. The 28-inch-high gunwales in the stern and bow are the perfect height for reaching the water’s surface to release fish. An optional leaning post in the middle of the cockpit held six fishing rods.

Greg Poland Photography

With 1,275 ponies on the transom, the 44 ST accelerated to 30 mph in 12 seconds and achieved a top speed of 65 mph at 6,000 rpm, where the triple Yamaha 425 XTOs burned 110 gph for 0.6 mpg. Throttling back to 4,000 rpm and 37 mph, the triple XTOs consumed 46 gph, resulting in 0.8 mpg. As mentioned earlier, the 44 ST is available with quad 425 XTOs, and according to ­Contender, speed and optimum fuel efficiency improve with that configuration.

If you want a big center-console that’s dedicated to the singular purpose of salt water, the Contender 44 ST is one boat you cannot ­ignore.

High Points

• Massive amount of deck space accommodates a big crew of anglers.
• Dash panel fits two 24-inch displays, yet is low enough to easily see over.
• Twin-step hull rides silky-smooth in 2- to 3-foot seas.

Low Points

• Foldout transom bench-style seat would add crew comfort on long runs.
• Our boat did not include a footrest at the helm, but Contender can easily add one if you like.

Price: $646,583 (base with triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards)

Available Power: Outboard

How We Tested
Engine: Triple 425 hp Yamaha 425 XTO outboards
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha XTO OS 17 7/8″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.79:1
Fuel Load: 400 gal.
Crew Weight: 1,000 lb.

Contender Boats – Homestead, Florida; 800-645-2906; contenderboats.com

The post Contender 44 ST Boat Test appeared first on Boating Mag.

The boat we used in photos and videos for the 2017 Guide to Towing is a 35 ST from Homestead, Florida-based Contender Boats. This big center console fishing boat helped showcase the towing capability of our 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350 truck. Together, the boat, trailer and truck garnered lots of admiring looks and comments from bystanders during our shoot on location in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

The 35 ST is a serious saltwater fishing machine. Like all Contenders, nearly everything within its 32-foot-8-inch hull is optional. You can have a 35 ST customized just the way you want it. Rigged out, it weighs 11,560 pounds (excluding the aluminum-frame, triple-axle trailer), so you’ll need a vehicle like the Ford Super Duty F-350 for towing this Contender.

As with all Contenders, the 35 ST features a foam-cored fiberglass stringer system, and the hand-laid fiberglass construction uses multidirectional fabric. You will also find foam flotation throughout. Above deck, there’s a heavy-duty rub rail and nothing but stainless-steel hardware. Our boat featured triple 300 hp Yamaha Marine outboards on the transom.

Thanks to a pair of steps built into the running surface, the hull is very efficient. The steps serve as vents to usher a cushion of air under the hull to reduce drag and boost efficiency when underway. While improving performance, steps also require special considerations when selecting a trailer. If you’re considering a stepped hull, make sure the trailer is designed and carefully fitted to the boat for proper support and to facilitate launching and loading.

The post Contender 35 ST appeared first on Boating Mag.

When you think of Contender Boats, you think about serious offshore fishing machines. The 25 Bay is just as serious, but designed with expansive casting decks to ply inshore waters for species such as bluefish, calico bass, cobia, redfish, sea-trout, snook, striped bass and tarpon.

With a draft of just 12 inches, you can sneak up on fish in shallow water, yet with a transom deadrise of 15½ degrees, you can also venture off the beach on a nice day to fish wrecks for grouper or weedlines for mahimahi.

Nearly everything within its 25-foot-4-inch hull is optional. You can have a 25 Bay customized just the way you want it. At 3,200 pounds rigged and ready to fish, you can easily tow this boat with a vehicle like the 2015 Ford F-150.

The 25 Bay features a foam-cored fiberglass stringer system, and the hand-laid fiberglass construction uses multidirectional fabric. You will also find foam flotation throughout. Above deck, there’s a heavy-duty rub rail and nothing but stainless-steel hardware.

Thanks to a pair of steps built into the running surface, the hull is very efficient. The steps serve as vents to usher a cushion of air under the hull to reduce drag when underway.

While improving performance and fuel efficiency, steps also require special considerations when selecting a trailer. If you’re considering a stepped-hull boat, make sure the trailer is designed for and carefully fitted to the boat for proper support and to facilitate launching and loading at the ramp.

The post Contender 25 Bay appeared first on Boating Mag.

Contender designed the new 22 Sport for first-time boat buyers. “This boat is a starter boat for those in their mid-20s to 30s,” said Jordan DeLong, project manager for Contender. “It’s for someone who has always wanted a Contender but couldn’t quite swing it financially before this.”

The smallest model in Contender’s current lineup, the 22 Sport accommodates the family with seating that includes a pair in the stern quarters, one on the front of the center-console, and two elevated pods with snap-on upholstery and a filler cushion forward that creates U-shaped seating in the bow. Padded coaming bolsters wrap around the bow and transom areas to serve as backrests.

Accessible via a door on the starboard side, the console interior offers 5 feet 4 inches of headroom for changing into a swimsuit. There’s space for a portable marine toilet, or you can order an optional permanent marine head.

A pair of integral swim platforms — one on either side of the splashwell — with a walkway between just abaft the transom bulkhead accommodates families who like to swim and dive. A pullout swim ladder on the starboard side lets you easily climb back aboard.

This Contender reflects the brand’s sport-fishing DNA with a 26-gallon pressurized transom livewell, a 94-gallon fish locker under the foredeck, and two 30-gallon fish boxes flanking the aft cockpit sole.

A central hatch in the aft cockpit offers access to the bilge rigging, with the batteries under the seats in each stern quarter. You’ll also find a 95-gallon dry-storage compartment under each elevated forward seating pod. All hatches are gasketed and guttered to channel away water, and deck hatches feature compression latches.

An anodized-aluminum grab rail wraps from amidships around the bow to enhance safety, but it is recessed and unobtrusive. The stainless-steel bow fixture for the red/green running lights folds flat during daylight hours. All cleats push down when not needed. Two gunwale rod holders on each side of the boat are ideal for trolling.

Stow your rods in a four-rod vertical rack along the port side of the pod-style center-console and in a three-rod rack on the backside of the leaning post. A Frigid Rigid cooler secures underneath. We found the leaning post seat was installed a tad too close to the wheel. Larger crew might find the spacing a bit cramped here.

Nineteen-inch walkways beside the console allow you to easily fight a fish down the rail. Our boat was equipped with a canvas T-top and an anodized-aluminum frame, which provided a great place to hold on while underway.

There’s ample room for three anglers to fish across the stern. The grit-style nonskid provides great traction. With a self-bailing deck, the boat can quickly drain any green water. Gunwales are 24 inches high in the aft cockpit, rising to 26 inches tall in the bow. Our tester featured both freshwater and raw-water washdown systems with slinky-style hoses and contoured holders for each.

Our tester lacked electronics, but the 31-inch-wide helm panel will easily accommodate a 16-inch multifunction display. A special visor atop the panel helps reduce glare on the helm panel.

The anchor locker on the 22 Sport offers copious room for line and a pipe to contain the shank of the anchor. There’s an integral bracket on the inner rim of the locker in which the crossbars of a Danforth-style anchor can nest. A pull-up cleat under the hatch provides a convenient and tidy way to tie off the anchor line.

Powered by a Yamaha F250 outboard with digital throttle and shift, the 22 Sport is a spirited performer. With 40 gallons of fuel on board and turning a 13¾-by-19-inch Yamaha Reliance three-blade stainless-steel propeller, the Contender jumped on plane in 4.2 seconds and accelerated to 30 mph in eight seconds.

We recorded a top speed of 55.5 mph at 5,900 rpm, while the Yamaha F250 burned 24.5 gallons per hour according to the Yamaha Command Link Plus gauge. Most economical cruising speed came at 4,500 rpm and 41.5 mph while the F250 sipped just 14.4 gallons per hour for 2.88 mpg.

With 22.5 degrees of deadrise at the transom, the hull knifed smoothly through waves, which were running up to 3 feet in the waters outside Florida’s Key Largo on test day. Uflex hydraulic steering eased the task of maneuvering through the numerous crab-pot buoys. The hull’s response to steering input was quick and predictable at all speeds.

Looking for a comparison model? Robalo’s R222 ($58,697 comparably equipped and with a Yamaha F250) is 1 foot shorter and has 11 gallons less livewell capacity, but seats more crew across the stern and has a transom door.

At a time when center-console boats seem to be getting bigger every year, it’s good to see that builders such as Contender refuse to neglect the smaller end of the spectrum, especially with a model that’s relatively swift, can tackle rough water and is also fuel efficient.

Comparable Model: Robalo R222

The post Contender 22 Sport appeared first on Boating Mag.

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

Contender 30 ST

The post Contender 30 ST appeared first on Boating Mag.

We ran smack into a set of eight- to 10-foot swells that the 39 LS took with ease. The trio of monstrous 350 hp Yamaha outboards provided plenty of push, and the digital controls gave me precise throttle control as the boat left and re-entered the water, a requisite for running breaking inlets.

I headed south, which put the waves on the beam, often the most challenging of conditions for a V-bottom, but we took minimal spray and the boat tracked straight even with a 20-knot wind trying to blow us off course.

The 39 LS’ twin-step bottom, designed by John Cosker of Mystic Powerboats fame, was drawn with offset strakes and convex sections in the bow to help carry the nose out of the water. This puts the propellers in good contact with the water to keep the boat moving forward in rough conditions and still lets it run at speeds exceeding 70 mph when you have the opportunity and inclination to pin the levers.

When we headed back in, I got to see how the 39 LS handled big following seas, and Cosker’s design again met the challenge. I could keep the boat on the backside of the waves and ride them in through the big following seas with no tendency to broach.

You’ll get similar performance in less-than-ideal conditions from the Intrepid 400 (Boating, January 2010), which retails for $383,100 including power steering with the same power as my test boat had, and from the Nor-Tech 390 Sport Open, $408,000 with the triple Yamaha 350s. The 39 LS is a little faster than the Intrepid, which topped out around 65 mph during our test, but the Nor-Tech reportedly runs 76 mph.

What I also noticed during our rough-water run was that, when the 39 LS launched and re-entered the water, I heard no rattles, never felt the hull flex or creak beneath me and never saw the T-top frame wobble. The LS line is intended to please more than serious fishermen with more family-friendly options (more on this later), but Contender knew that buyers of this boat would expect the rugged construction for which the company is known. Those three mighty outboards mount on a transom cored with Divinycell foam. The manufacturer cores the hull sides with balsa and reinforces the strakes with putty. The stringers and deck liner are also cored with Divinycell. The hardtop frame is formed out of 3-inch-diameter, powder-coated aluminum tubing and assembled with heavy-duty stainless-steel fasteners. In a touch that looks cool and adds functionality, the underside of the T-top is finished in the same color as the hull. The dark green top on my test boat helped reduce glare on the instrument panel. Except for the single forward bow cleat (I’d prefer two), the spring and stern cleats are positioned beneath the deck with the dock lines running through hawsepipes.

My lone gripe at the helm is that I would have liked to have stood a little taller. Contender offers an optional step for runts like me. Yamaha’s digital controls allow you to run all three engines on one lever. To deter theft and keep you from having to carry around three separate keys, the 39 LS has a single key that energizes the battery switches. Then you power up the motors with push-button ignition switches.

Looking at the more family-oriented features on the 39 LS, you can get an optional starboard side-boarding gate ($13,185) that folds neatly into the cockpit sole. Positioned on the aft side of the helm seat structure, a wet bar features a grill beneath a Corian countertop, a drawer-style refrigerator and additional stowage. For stowing fenders and dock lines, there are plenty of options given the number of in-sole lockers. If you still want to fish this boat, there’s a tuna-size box on the starboard side.

Within the center console, you’ll find a commode with more than enough sitting headroom for adults. On the front side of the console is another bench seat with stowage in the base. There is a place for everything aboard the 39 LS.

In the bow, you’ll find the best seats aboard, thanks to an optional feature (an extra $1,778) found only on the 39 LS. Hydraulically activated backrests on the aft end of each of the nearly seven-foot-long lounges raise to turn them into chaises. Put them in the down position and lower the three-position table halfway to turn the area into a giant playpen with filler cushions. And since the 39 LS can handle even the biggest conditions with ease, you’ll feel comfortable knowing mom and the kids can hang out there while you cruise the waves on a calm day.

Comparable models: Intrepid 400, Nor-Tech 390 Sport Open

The post Contender 39 LS appeared first on Boating Mag.

This is important because, during the test, we had only two people on board with no additional gear. That means that, once the 32 LS is loaded with gear and crew, you can still use the outboards’ positive trim to get the bow out of the water and maintain the efficiency that comes with the boat’s twin-step bottom design.

Naval architect John Cosker of Mystic Powerboats fame designed the twin-step deep-V for the 32 LS. The first step is right under the center console with the second one not quite four feet aft. What’s interesting is the strake configuration. There are two on each side of the hull forward of the first step. Abaft the step is a single strake per side, but it’s placed in the middle of the keel to the chine panels. On the aftmost running surface, Cosker used no strakes. He said the steps provide enough lift — strakes aft would produce too much — and the lack of strakes feeds cleaner water to the propellers. To ensure that the boat retains good rough-water ride quality, the forward sections of the bottom are convex in shape from chine to keel. This helps reduce slamming.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the stepped hull is a 10 percent improvement over the old nonstepped version, and it’s at least 3 mph faster. Paired with two big Yamaha V-6 engines, the 32 LS hit 61.3 mph, burning 52 gph of fuel at wide-open throttle. My test boat maneuvered smoothly through S-turns and came around cleanly in circles. Plenty of torque allows you to put this boat anywhere you want around the docks.

The 32 LS also boasts a solid feel under way, largely achieved by the hull-side balsa coring, putty-filled strakes plus transom, stringers and liner cored with Divinycell foam. The hardtop frame, formed of 3-inch-diameter powder-coated aluminum tubing, is just as robust. Except for the forward bow cleat, the amidships and stern cleats are positioned beneath the deck with the dock lines running through hawse pipes, usually found on much bigger boats, and providing a snag-free fishing environment and a clean look.

The LS series mission is to provide a more family-friendly model that still features the performance and construction that instill confidence when offshore. Comparable boats include Intrepid’s 327 (Boating, November/December 2011), which retails for $191,669 with the same power as our test boat. Another comparable boat is the Yellowfin 32. With the twin Yamaha 300s, the Yellowfin has a sticker of $178,880.

The helm layout is clean, with all the gauges in clear sight lines and the Yamaha digital controls in comfortable reach. I liked the keyless ignition. There’s a single master key, but you use remote switches to start the engines. For a little wow factor, open the head door and watch the battery switches when someone turns the key. The battery switches power up. It looks good and deters theft. Good access to wiring is found from with the head, and I admired the nice job Contender did in routing the wires and labeling all the blade-style fuses. The batteries are also housed here for ease of access.

My test boat had the optional ($13,185) hull-side swim door that folds into the cockpit sole when it’s opened, a feature also offered by Intrepid in both manual and hydraulic versions. I discovered other day-boat features aboard this center console as well. Abaft the leaning post is an entertainment center with a sink and grill concealed beneath a Corian countertop, and there’s a drawer-style refrigerator too. There’s in-sole stowage throughout the boat that can be used for stashing tow toys and beach floats as easily as chilling the day’s big catch if you nab a big one.

Forward of the console is a bench seat with a cooler inside. In the bow are long chaise-style seats on which I stretched out with room to spare. A three-position table rises so you can have a sandwich, drops down halfway to convert the area into a big playpen with filler cushions, or lowers all the way into the sole. Combined with the 32 LS’s smooth, level ride, these amenities ensure as much comfort en route to your destination as you’ll enjoy once you arrive.

Comparable models: Intrepid 327 Cuddy, Yellowfin 32

_**Click here to view the 32 LS’s accommodation plan.**_

The post Contender 32 LS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

Contender 32 LS

The post Contender 32 LS appeared first on Boating Mag.

CONTENDER 38 E, www.contender.com 800-645-2906

PERFORMANCE: Our tester topped 53 mph. Best economy is at 34 mph, burning 31 gph for 1.2 mpg. It gets better than 1 mpg at all speeds between 20 and 39 mph, so expect 576 miles of range. Its conventional deep-V hull mushes chop and crests swells without cantilevering the bow and dropping. It turns when you ask, leaning and carving constantly regardless of engine trim or speed. It planes without loss of visibility forward.

DETAILS: The hull and deck are glassed and bolted together. Strakes are filled, and the hull has PVC coring in the sides and a solid glass bottom. Midship cleats are near the helm for easy solo docking. Burled-grained hardwood tops a chromed, stainless pedestal that converts the master berth; two more can sleep in the aft cabin. There’s a marble counter in the galley, a two-burner stove, an under-mount sink, and stainless appliances.

CRUISING AND FISHING: Cruising: Forward master berth and aft stateroom sleep 4; full galley; all-in-one head/shower w/electric commode; generator and a/c; 30a shorepower; 30a battery charger; flat-panel TV/DVD player; removable transom bench; cockpit bar and drinkbox; electric grill; windlass; transom door and boarding platform. Fishing: Two 110-gal. fishboxes; two 45-gal. livewells; rigging station; chilled baitbox; tackle stowage; 4 gunwale rodholders; raw-water washdown.

HIGHS & LOWS ****

HIGHS: Aft cabin a real plus. Best fishboat of the three. Proven hull delivers a predictable ride with no quirks. The midsize boat if you go by the specs, it felt the biggest. Built-in cubbies in cabin are what boaters need for stuff. ****

LOWS: Grit nonslip tough to clean and doesn’t look as good as the molded diamond pattern of the other two. Underwater metals not bonded. No ventilation in head. Custom boat means lots of decisions and, perhaps, a long wait for delivery.

FOUNTAIN 38 LUXURY EDITION, www.fountainboats.com 252-975-2000

PERFORMANCE: We hit 63 mph, making it the fastest. Best economy is at 48 mph, burning 39 gph for 1.2 mpg. It gets better than 1 mpg between 21 and 45 mph so count on 360 miles of range. The double-stepped hull delivered nimble high-speed handling, a quick holeshot, and a satisfying thwap as we skipped over the chop. Hardover turns at 30 mph induced excessive lean until I learned to trim the engines “neutral” with hull bottom.

DETAILS: The hull and deck are glassed and bolted together. The layup has foam coring in the hullsides and solid glass in the bottom. With a proprietary water pickup, the genset can be used at top speed. The leaning post adjusts, and the washdown through-hull is plumbed to two pumps. The V-berth sleeps two. There’s a single-burner stove, refrigerator, microwave, and sink. The head has a commode and a folding shower seat.

CRUISING AND FISHING: Cruising: V-berth sleeps 2; full galley; all-in-one head/shower w/vacuum-flush commode; generator and a/c; 30a shorepower; 30a battery charger; water heater; flat-panel TV/DVD player; AM/FM/CD stereo; integral transom bench; transom shower; half-tower w/canvas enclosure; windlass; anchor chute w/ss strike plate; transom door. Fishing: Two 37-gal. fishboxes; 55-gal. livewell; 4 gunwale rodholders; rocket launchers; raw-water washdown.

HIGHS & LOWS ****

HIGHS: Fastest of the three. Metal fabrication is top-notch: Check the standard half-tower’s pipework. Wide-flange stringer grid distributes hull loads. Unlike the others, it’s a stock boat, so you won’t have to wait long to get one.

LOWS: You’ll curse the small anchor-locker access plate the first time the windlass snarls the rode. Through-hull fitting access not as good as the others. Bow access okay, while others are excellent.

INTREPID 390 SPORT YACHT, www.intrepidboats.com 954-922-7544

PERFORMANCE: We hit 55.5 mph. Best economy is at 42 mph, burning 41 gph for 1.0 mpg. Its best mpg threshold is between 18 and 42 mph, yielding a 400-mile range. This single-stepped hull is so well designed that the trim is built-in, barely affected by engine angle. It punches through waves, riding over crests and through troughs without falling in a hole. It comes around when you turn the wheel regardless of speed or trim.

DETAILS: The hull and deck are glassed and bolted together. The hull is vacuum-bagged with PVC core in the sides and solid glass in the bottom. Deck and liners are resin-infused. Urethane paint is used instead of gel coat. The cockpit has an electric chaise lounge. There’s a sink under lids, microwave, and drawer refrigerator. Topside windows, skylights, and hatches provide light and ventilation. Check out the separate stall shower in head.

CRUISING AND FISHING: Cruising: Forward V-berth and convertible settee sleeps 3; galley w/sink, microwave, and drawer refrigerator; head w/separate shower stall and electric commode; 30a shorepower; 30a battery charger; water heater; reclining lounges/benches forward; integral cooler; electric “hide-away” helm electronics pod; windlass; anchor chute; 2 dive platforms; transom door. Fishing: 210-gal. fishbox; 11-gal. livewell; raw-water washdown.

HIGHS & LOWS ****

HIGHS: Most livable cabin of the three, in part because it’s the largest boat, but mostly due to generous light and ventilation. Fiberglass headliner (the others are vinyl) another plus. Best finished, from hull paint to “hidden” hatch hinges. ****

LOWS: Through-hull fittings are bonded, but some wire ter-minals lacked sealant to thwart corrosion. Shortest standards list of the three — it’s truly a custom-production boat. Yikes! A year-plus wait for delivery.

The Bottom Line

The Contender 38 E could fish the tournament trail, cruises nicely, and sleeps the most. But its sand nonslip is a faux pas, and its performance doesn’t offer the excitement of the others. Fountain’s 38 Luxury Edition provides true go-fast thrills and weekend cruising. It’s an easy-to-buy turnkey package, but that means giving up some of the customization offered by the others. Also, its aft bench will get in the way of anglers. That leaves Intrepid’s 390 Sport Yacht. It has terrific cruising attributes, great fishing, and a fun-to-run ride, making it our king of waterborne do-it-alls. But because most amenities are à la carte, purchasing gets complex, and you’ll have to wait.

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