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Boat rebuild thread - 33T Contender (pic heavy)
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:12 pm
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:12 pm
Figured I’d share the rebuild we are doing on a 33T contender we picked up earlier this year. Boat was in running condition when we got it, but needed a good bit of cosmetic and wiring work done to it. We also got trip Yamaha 300’s we are repowering it with, so all the rigging had to come out as well. After taking it all apart, we decided to go all in and just strip it all the way down to a bare hull, replace fuel tanks, repair all fiberglass, repaint and reassemble.
This is how we got it
Some pictures of the demo
New paint, fiberglass work, and fuel tanks (don’t have too many pictures from this)
And as of last weekend, finally starting to reassemble. Includes fresh coat of line-x on the aluminum as well.
Going to start tackling the plumbing and wiring this weekend, and hopefully wrap everything up by mid January. I’ll probably update this thread after each weekend of work. Pretty excited to dive in to the wiring. Have some pretty cool stuff lined up for that.
This is how we got it



Some pictures of the demo







New paint, fiberglass work, and fuel tanks (don’t have too many pictures from this)



And as of last weekend, finally starting to reassemble. Includes fresh coat of line-x on the aluminum as well.





Going to start tackling the plumbing and wiring this weekend, and hopefully wrap everything up by mid January. I’ll probably update this thread after each weekend of work. Pretty excited to dive in to the wiring. Have some pretty cool stuff lined up for that.

Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:19 pm to CP3
Frickin awesome dude. Keep us updated as you go!
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:32 pm to CP3
My favorite threads. Looks awesome
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:34 pm to CP3
Congratulations on the new boat.
Thanks for the thread. Love these.
Thanks for the thread. Love these.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:36 pm to JDPndahizzy
quote:
Frickin awesome dude. Keep us updated as you go!
Thanks! Yeah my plan is to keep it updated as we make progress. Some of the things we have going into it next few weekends will be:
- 12” and 10” Garmin MFDs
- Garmin radar and autopilot
- sea star power assist steering
- NiteTrack night vision camera
- 8 to 10 JL speakers & ~3500W of amps
- Yamaha CommandLink+ screen for engines
- digital throttles and rigging for trip 300 yammys
- new livewell and bilge pumps
- ALL new wiring, switches, breakers, panels, etc (I have some cool stuff planned for the new panels)
- all new lights, latches and pretty much any other hardware, tons of rod holders, etc
It’s taken way longer than initially planned, but it’s worth it to have it all done right.
This post was edited on 12/6/21 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:39 pm to CP3
Do you need any new friends? I’m available (once it’s complete of course
)



Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:45 pm to CP3
Come a long way from Cypress Mounds.
Nice work.
Nice work.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 3:47 pm to CP3
Very nice! Is this replacing the 33 onslow?
Posted on 12/6/21 at 4:01 pm to bigbuckdj
quote:
Is this replacing the 33 onslow?
Yeah, for now. That was my buddies boat. They sold it beginning of this year, and put in a order for a new one that’s still at-least a year out I think. We went in on this one for the time being. May just end up keeping this one instead though.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 4:23 pm to CP3
I saw the onslow a few times out of Venice, it was pretty slick. I’m sure y’all won’t be wanting for much by the time y’all finish everything on this build. Keep us posted.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:02 pm to bigbuckdj
The Onslow was a completely different animal. Fast, super efficient, super dry, and awesome fit and finish. Probably my favorite CC that I’ve ever been on. This contender will be a little slower, wetter and less efficient. But it’s also bigger, has better storage and more fuel capacity (overall more range even though not as efficient as onslow). Also for the $$$ going into this contender, it’ll still come out at just over half the cost of a new Onslow lol.
If used boat market stays as ridiculous as it is now though, this one one would probably sell for not a whole lot less than the new Onslow would cost.
If used boat market stays as ridiculous as it is now though, this one one would probably sell for not a whole lot less than the new Onslow would cost.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:05 pm to CP3
How much you figure you will save on rebuilding vs a new contender?
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:06 pm to CP3
Having dabbled in restoration a couple of times, I can’t tell you how impressive this is. Great work!
(and I know it’s a LOT of work)
(and I know it’s a LOT of work)
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:14 pm to bayoudude
ALOT
We got the hull for super cheap and were able to buy without the old engines to save even more money. And it already had a lot of good electronics on it like radar, autopilot, etc. All in, probably gonna have around $160k in this one. That’s with everything.
They don’t make the 33T anymore, but it’s pretty much same hull as the 35ST minus the steps, and I think those are like $400k+ new.

We got the hull for super cheap and were able to buy without the old engines to save even more money. And it already had a lot of good electronics on it like radar, autopilot, etc. All in, probably gonna have around $160k in this one. That’s with everything.
They don’t make the 33T anymore, but it’s pretty much same hull as the 35ST minus the steps, and I think those are like $400k+ new.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:20 pm to CP3
Looks good man. Just pulled the trigger on a 31 Bertram bahia mar and am gonna convert it to an express with twin 400’s... Would rather redo a project boat right now than buy something new in today’s ridiculous boat market.
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:30 pm to CP3
Well the custom aluminum switch panel I designed came in today. And all the new switches as well. Etched and infilled logos on the switch panel to match theme of boat. Guess this will give me something to do during the week




Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:47 pm to CP3
quote:
. All in, probably gonna have around $160k in this one. That’s with everything.
That’s damn good! Not many can stomach a project like that it’s impressive. Love a good build thread
Posted on 12/6/21 at 5:52 pm to bayoudude
The black bottom looks badass
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