Mid 90's Contender Questions...

[ADDfishing]

I'm considering purchasing a small mid 90's Contender and would like some hints as to what I need to look for. My main concern is the fuel tank, as I'm not intimately aware of Contender construction methods. Is the tank foamed in? Is the tank 1/8" or 1/4" plate? Are the bilges normally dry - outside of a fish box potentially draining to it?

With one of my potential options, power is not a concern as it's been updated.

I've always been told that the general rule is 15 years is the approximate lifespan of a fuel tank. Before purchase of any of my options, I would have a marine survey performed, but I'd like to know what to look for or stay away from before I initiate a transaction on something I should have ruled out in the first place.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[LuckyLady]

I'm considering purchasing a small mid 90's Contender and would like some hints as to what I need to look for. My main concern is the fuel tank, as I'm not intimately aware of Contender construction methods. Is the tank foamed in? Is the tank 1/8" or 1/4" plate? Are the bilges normally dry - outside of a fish box potentially draining to it?

With one of my potential options, power is not a concern as it's been updated.

I've always been told that the general rule is 15 years is the approximate lifespan of a fuel tank. Before purchase of any of my options, I would have a marine survey performed, but I'd like to know what to look for or stay away from before I initiate a transaction on something I should have ruled out in the first place.

Thanks in advance for any help!

The bilges are normally dry the only thing that drains in to the bilge would be the fishboxes unless you have a stopper in the drain. Some boats have and don't have overboard pumps all depends on how the person who originally bought it and set it up.

The fuel tank should be fine they are glassed in and unless its rotted from the inside out then you would be fine.

There really isn't anything to be concerned with outside of the compression on the motors and an overall hull survey to check for any signs of moisture or previous hull damage. I have yet to have a wet hull on a contender nor a fuel tank issue.

Due to the age of the boat, be sure to check the trim and tilt area of the motors to make sure there is no corrosion or rusting , if its minor make sure you clean it up and get it painted with the proper paint to prevent any further damage.

The only other thing would be batteries and corrosion at the terminals. Batteries should be replaced all at one shot every couple of years. For other wiring issues maybe just some corrosion around the back side of the switch and gauge panels and a tube a caulk and a quick reseal will do you right.

Common things we see with age is just minor maintenance stuff. Some times there will be a slight water leak in to the console and normally its the gauge panels needed to be resealed or the rod holders in the side of the console.

Contender has designed their boats around a few simple theories. All of their main electrical items are located in the console where its dry, trim tab pumps, batteries, battery switches chargers, pumps fuse panels etc.

The only items that are in the bilge are fuel primer balls , fuel water seps, the through hulls livewell pumps and in hull transducers. Pretty much anything that can get a little wet if it happens.

All the deck drains drain overboard including the livewells.

Check all the thru hulls where they go through the boat inside and out if you see rust seepage marks then you have a through hull that needs to be resealed

I think the most common thing that gets replaced is livewell pumps, saltwater pumps freshwater pumps and for the engines is tilt and trim failure.

I have some pictures of a tank on 33t not sure what model you are looking at but i can elaborate any further if needed