Contender 39 ST
When you’re leaving before sunrise to run toward the edge, there’s a certain kind of boat that shows up over and over again in the tournament fleet. The Contender 39 ST is one of those boats—a 39-foot, twin-stepped center console built to get you to the bite fast, fish efficiently once you’re there, and still feel in control when the forecast turns “sporty.”
The Contender 39 ST is a tournament-bred 39-footer with a stepped deep-V hull, massive fish boxes, and the speed to make canyon runs from the Northeast in a single shot.
Built on a two-step, 24.5° deep-V hull with 500 gallons of fuel and a max rating of 1,600 horsepower, the 39 ST is meant for all-weather, long-range work. With triple outboards and a fine entry, it has the speed to beat the fleet to the bite and the ride to stay offshore when the wind comes up. Reported sea-trial numbers with triple Yamaha XF425s show top speeds over 70 mph and an efficient cruise in the high 30s, with roughly 450 miles of range on 90 percent of fuel—serious reach for Hudson, Veatch, or Hydrographer trips.
On deck, the layout feels purpose-built for the tournament crew. A huge 260-gallon in-deck forward fish box is backed up by a 145-gallon secondary box, twin 105-gallon aft boxes, and twin 40-gallon transom livewells fed by a dedicated pump box. Forward under-deck rod lockers, a full-transom with integrated dive platform and door, oversize bilge access, and a big sport console with walk-in head compartment and side entry round out a cockpit that’s clearly set up for serious work days offshore.
Because Contender builds the 39 ST as a semi-custom platform, owners can spec the console style, leaning post, second station, coffin box, and seating to match how they actually fish. For Northeast crews who split time between overnight canyon trips and mid-shore tuna, that flexibility is a big part of the appeal.
Rob Saban of Contender Boats walked us through the updated new features of the Contender 39 ST at the 2025 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
39 ST — Key Specs & Dimensions
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length Overall (LOA) | 39 ft |
| Beam | 10 ft 10 in |
| Draft | 24 in |
| Deadrise (transom) | 24.5° |
| Weight (approx., with power) | 15,400 lbs |
| Fuel Capacity | 500 gal |
| Fresh Water Capacity | 40 gal |
| Maximum HP | 1,600 hp |
| Typical Power | Triple Yamaha XTO 425, triple Yamaha F300, or comparable triples |
| Reported Performance (triple XF425s) | Top ~72.7 mph; cruise ~36.6 mph @ 3,500 rpm; ~450-mile range (90% of fuel) |
Performance figures are from published sea-trial data and may vary with load, rigging, and conditions.
Fish Boxes, Livewells & Storage
- Forward in-deck fish box: 260-gallon insulated box, ideal for bigeye and yellowfin, or for piling in iced-down canyon meat.
- Secondary forward box: 145-gallon insulated fish box/dry storage—good for extra ice or gear.
- Aft in-deck fish boxes: twin 105-gallon insulated boxes port and starboard.
- Transom livewells: twin 40-gallon livewells with clear lids, stainless pump box, and twin 1500 GPH pumps for redundant, tournament-ready bait supply.
- Forward under-deck rod lockers to port and starboard for stowing rigged trolling rods, pitch outfits, or deep-drop gear.
- Oversize in-deck bilge access for easy maintenance offshore and quick access to pumps and plumbing.
Console, Layout & Options
- 39 ST sport console with helm pod, oversize glove box, four cupholders, rounded glass enclosure, and side-entry door to the interior.
- Walk-in console interior with room for an electric head, sink, and finished storage—useful on overnight runs or family days.
- Cockpit coaming bolsters, full-transom with integral dive platform and transom dive door for boarding and landing big fish.
- Livorsi trim tabs for dialing in attitude when running up-sea, down-sea, or quartering steep Northeast chop.
- Hardtop and tower options: sport leaning posts, stand-on hardtop with second station, mezzanine seating, and multiple leaning-post layouts available to match your program.
- Rigging options include extra fuel (50–100 gallons), additional livewell capacity, electric-reel outlets, upgraded Llebroc helm seating, outriggers, added rod holders, and coffin box/forward lounge packages.
Why the 39 ST Works in Northeastern Waters
The Contender 39 ST is built for the kind of long-range, fast-paced fishing that defines the Northeast offshore scene. The twin-stepped, 24.5° deep-V hull and 500 gallons of fuel give you both the ride and the reach to pick weather windows, cover ground, and still get home in time when the wind shifts earlier than forecast.
At the rail, the layout is pure workboat: high gunnels, big boxes for meat, clean rigging, and room for a full crew to work lines without getting tangled up. At the helm, triple screens, a wide console, and optional second station give captains the visibility and tools they need to kite-fish, troll, or live-chunk efficiently. For the crew that wants to run hard, fish even harder, and not feel limited by distance, the 39 ST is very much “in it to win it.”