Contender 35 ST
The Contender 35 ST is a 35-foot center console, built from 2014 and still in production.
This page is published but not submitted to search engines: only 2 distinct observations (need 10); only 2 priced observations (need 6); only 1 states (need 4); 100% of observations from one city; only 0 model years with 3+ observations. We would rather show you a thin page honestly than pretend it is complete.
BoatVerdict market snapshot
These are asking prices. No free or public source publishes US used-boat transaction prices, so nobody — us included — can honestly show you what these boats sold for. What we can show you is what 2 sellers are asking, which is the number you are actually negotiating against.
Only 2 priced listings. Treat the numbers as directional.
Method: Asking prices from active listings, de-duplicated so a re-posted boat counts once (13 raw listings collapsed to 2 distinct boats). Quartiles, not averages, so one outlier cannot move the band. Rounded to $500.
Coverage: Model years 1998–1998, 1 states, 1 metro areas. New-boat listings excluded.
Sources: BoatVerdict market observations (craigslist) · US state vessel registries (174 registered Contender hulls)
Looking at a Contender 35 ST for sale?
Paste the listing and we will score that specific boat against everything on this page: asking price versus our observed range, engine and hours risk, the known issues for its model year, and a negotiation position. The verdict is free.
Get the free verdict →No account needed. The paid Deal Report is optional and comes after.
The BoatVerdict take
- BoatVerdict listing data
Pricing is tight: the middle half of listings sits between $80,000 and $90,000, only a 1.1x spread. A boat asking well outside that band needs a reason, and "it is loaded" is usually not enough of one.
- BoatVerdict listing data
Supply is concentrated: our 2 listings came from only 1 states, led by TX. Expect a smaller buyer pool at resale, and budget for transport if the right boat is not local.
- BoatVerdict analyst
Tournament-pedigree hull; strong in FL/Gulf. Buyer pool is narrower than Yellowfin but loyal.
Each point is tagged with the evidence behind it. Nothing here is a claim we cannot trace back to a counted listing, a federal record, or a named analyst judgement.
Contender 35 ST prices by model year
| Model year | Listings | Typical asking range | Median asking | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 | 2 priced — too few to publish a range | — |
Asking prices from active listings we observed, not sold prices. No public source publishes US used-boat transaction prices; anyone showing you "sold" data for this market is estimating it. Years with fewer than 3 priced listings show the count only.
Method: Median and quartiles per model year, computed only where at least 3 priced listings exist for that year.
Sources: BoatVerdict market observations
Known problems on the Contender 35 ST
- High Hard offshore use is the norm — compression-test every engine, don't trust hours alone.
- Medium Foam-cored stringers are robust, but check for transom flex on neglected high-hour boats.
Severity is BoatVerdict's rating of what the fault costs to put right and how likely it is to end a deal, not a manufacturer classification. Recalls are listed separately below because a recall is a federal record and a known issue is not.
Method: Hand-authored from service patterns, owner reports and federal records for this model, then reviewed against our listing data.
Sources: BoatVerdict analyst profile: Contender 35 ST
Contender 35 ST specifications
| Length overall | 35 ft | Builder spec |
|---|---|---|
| Beam | 10.5 ft | Builder spec |
| Hull type | center console | BoatVerdict classification |
| Segment | saltwater fishing | BoatVerdict classification |
| Production | 2014–present | Builder history |
| Primary use | Saltwater | BoatVerdict classification |
| Model years traded | 1998–1998 | Our listing data |
| Contender hulls in US registries | 174 | TX + NY open data |
Rows marked "our listing data" are measured from listings, not published by the builder, and will differ from a brochure. Rows without a source we can name are not shown at all.
What to inspect on a used Contender 35 ST
- Compression + leak-down test on every outboard, independent of stated hours. Model-specific item from BoatVerdict's Contender 35 ST profile.
- Flex-check the transom under engine weight at rest and at WOT. Model-specific item from BoatVerdict's Contender 35 ST profile.
- Assume saltwater service unless the seller can prove otherwise: pull the engine cowling and look at the powerhead, check trim-cylinder rams for pitting, and open the battery and fuse boxes for green corrosion. 100% of the listings we observed for this model are in coastal states.
- On the older hulls, core moisture is the deal-breaker: sound the transom and the deck with a plastic mallet, and treat any soft or dull-sounding area as a survey-stopper rather than a bargaining chip. We observe listings back to 1998, so boats over 28 years old are actively traded in this model.
- Work the 2 known issues listed above into the sea trial, not the walkaround. Most of them only show up under load. BoatVerdict analyst profile for this model.
This list is specific to this model: analyst items for the hull, plus items driven by the engines and the regions we actually observe on 35 ST listings. It is not a generic pre-purchase checklist, and it does not replace a surveyor.
What a 35 ST costs to own
$14k – $46k per year
- 35 ft center console, the published length for this model
- Saltwater berth, based on where most listings we see are located (TX)
- Includes insurance, storage, routine service, fuel at moderate seasonal use, and a reserve for wear items
- Excludes loan payments, major engine replacement, and refit work
This is a modelled band, not observed spend. Real cost swings hard on where you keep the boat and how much you use it.
Method: The same ownership-cost model BoatVerdict's paid Deal Report uses: boat class and length set the base band, then saltwater berth and size adjust it.
Sources: BoatVerdict ownership-cost model
Where 35 STs are for sale
- TX 2
Counts of distinct boats we observed per state, from 2 listings in 1 metro areas. We publish the distribution, not the listings themselves.
What else buyers cross-shop
- Sea Ray 340 Sundancer
- Sea Ray 330 Sundancer
- Sea Ray Sundancer 320
- Sea Ray 310 Sundancer
- Sea Ray 300 Sundancer
- Sea Ray 290 Sundancer
Chosen by measured similarity — same builder first, then comparable length — and limited to models whose own page meets our evidence bar. No paid placements, no filler links.
Contender 35 ST FAQ
What are the common problems with the Contender 35 ST?
What does it cost to own a Contender 35 ST per year?
Looking at a Contender 35 ST for sale?
Paste the listing and we will score that specific boat against everything on this page: asking price versus our observed range, engine and hours risk, the known issues for its model year, and a negotiation position. The verdict is free.
Get the free verdict →No account needed. The paid Deal Report is optional and comes after.