Contender 25 open vs. Contender 27 open

[hthoang]

Currently in a 22 foot boat but looking to upgrade to bigger 24 degree deadrise, twin powered boat to increase fishing days, increase range, better ride, etc. Looking for used Contender 25 opens and 27 opens. I think LOA for both models is 28 and 30 respectively. Will I be giving up much by going with the 25 rather than the 27? Will I be kicking myself in a couple of years for not going bigger? Is there that much of a difference between the two or is there a bigger difference when you compare say a 25 open to a 31?

I like the 25 open size for trailering and fuel economy but would like to hear what everyone else thinks.

[offshore3144]

I have a 25 open and have been on a 27 open and the 31 open there was a little difference between the 27 and the 25 but not enough to justify the jump into the 27. If I were to make the jump from the 25 I would jump to a 31 or the 33T. That being said I think the 25 is a fantastic hull. All we do is offshore fish 40-60 miles out every trip. It is fast and economical. I think I will hold on tho this one for quite a while. Perfect match for the kind of fishing I do....Mark

[EODContender]

I own a 27 and I say go for the 27. The fuel burn numbers are basically the same as the 25 but it holds more fuel and has a larger cockpit. If you already owned a 25, I would say don't bother jumping to the 27. Since this isn't the case, I would go for the 27. The difference between the 27 and 31 is beam and 2.5' in lenght. The extra beam on the 31 is where you start loosing fuel economy.

[rayos]

I have a 25 and a friend the 27. What strikes me right away is that there is more noticeable cockpit space in his. The 25 has decent space. We both have 200 hpdis and they run real close in terms of speed and economy, almost no difference. I run mine offshore and in the bay and in all sorts of channels to get bait and I like the size allot. Good luck.

[Southern Hunter]

I have fished both the 25 and the 27, and I found there to be noticeably more room in the 27, it rides a good bit better and it also holds more fuel. The fuel burn numbers from what I remember were very comparable to the 25 too! I would go with the 27, I don't think you will regret it!!

[23Dorado]

There seems to alot of used but very well taken care of 27s on the market recently. I would have one if gas wasn't 3.50 a gallon.

[gordo35]

I'm in the same market- looking at 25's and 27's. I looked at a used 27 and that thing seemed freaking huge compared to a 25 I had just looked at.

[Back-in-Black]

EODContender - 4/15/2008 4:17 PM

I own a 27 and I say go for the 27. The fuel burn numbers are basically the same as the 25 but it holds more fuel and has a larger cockpit. If you already owned a 25, I would say don't bother jumping to the 27. Since this isn't the case, I would go for the 27. The difference between the 27 and 31 is beam and 2.5' in lenght. The extra beam on the 31 is where you start loosing fuel economy.

Ditto, but I own a 25. Wouldn't even consider a 27 from here, but if I didn't already have a 25, I'd be very tempted by the 27. Got my sights set on a 33T, but that may be a while coming.

[Back-in-Black]

EODContender - 4/15/2008 4:17 PM

I own a 27 and I say go for the 27. The fuel burn numbers are basically the same as the 25 but it holds more fuel and has a larger cockpit. If you already owned a 25, I would say don't bother jumping to the 27. Since this isn't the case, I would go for the 27. The difference between the 27 and 31 is beam and 2.5' in lenght. The extra beam on the 31 is where you start loosing fuel economy.

Ditto, but I own a 25. Wouldn't even consider a 27 from here, but if I didn't already have a 25, I'd be very tempted by the 27. Got my sights set on a 33T, but that may be a while coming.

[whateverbites]

If anyone is looking for a smoken deal on a 27 Open BRAND NEW call it will happen

For the 27 to the 25 BIG difference in space and ride, both fish great! Spent tons of hours on both

[Southern Fried]

Both great boats. I will tell you that I love my 27. I also have never been out on it and thought that I should have gone smaller.

with the exeption of cleanning it.

Get the 27. when it gets $hitty You always wish you had the 2 more foot.