So on the Contender did anyone open any the hatches during preliminary design and prototype? 26' boat and there's not enough room to make the console seat lid open all the way, and the phone storage hatch on the console hits the steering wheel?? The two adjacent livewells in the back deck has to be a joke. Two huge hatches in the rear and both are more suited for bilge access than any type of storage. But like just about every other "Bay boat" made these days it appears made to suit the sandbar rather than fishing. Too much lack of attention to detail on a $220K boat IMO.
Just upgraded from the YF bay to the 26. Never had any issues w water in the trolling battery compartment. I think the finishes on the YF 24 are far superior. I like the 400 on this one, mine had a 300 Verado and when the rear livewell was full it felt grossly underpowered with a few guys onboard. Found there to be plenty of space behind the leaning post. Great for bay and inshore, running out to the reef, miserable ride in greater than 2ft seas. If you fish live bait, i would build one with the leaning post livewell - laying out on the transom every time I needed a bait was annoying. The little amount of space in the cockpit behind the leaning post and the tiny bilge access on the Contender looks like a deal killer, but that’s just me. With both, i would consider adding an extra house battery….those big MFDs and stereos systems are juice hogs
Its the small details to me that Yellowfin wins on this one. Larger bilge access, hidden battery compartment, and the rounded cutouts on the anchor chest door. Not to mention almost 50K cheaper. Im a Yamaha outboard believer but today's Mercs are just as quiet and reliable so either way in my opinion is solid. Either of these boats are solid choices.
I have been fortunate to have owned both of these boats (2014 YF bay) (2016 Contender bay) and the Contender rides much better and even has the capacity to handle some offshore. The YF handles a bay chop decently yet offshore the ride is subpar and very wet. 2023 YF is still the same hull as mine was and the 2023 Contender bay has been made to ride even better so I would imagine the disparity from YF to Contender ride is even bigger for the 2023 models. Best of luck in your search.
well what I notice was the contender had more seating I think 8. then the yellowfin was 4. I didn't see built in seating in the back on yellow fin. look like the yellow fin was a better fishing boat for couple buddies. The contender look like a family fishing boat.
Both are nice boats, but the Contender rides a whole lot better than the YF, I'm not sure about the helm on the YF. It looks very tight to get in there. Basically, the ride is gonna pay dividends with the Contender. IMO
Definitely not my cup of tea … the spacing on the contender helm seat was off but , I liked the fish box ! The yellow fin looked like it was for keeping live fish better. Fit and finish on the latches on the yellow fin we’re better but the t-tops aren’t big at all. Hard to say who the winner is on those two .. just depends on how many screens you want 😂
FFS there is no metric that justifies a $1/4 million single engine bay boat. Think about it! If some one gave you $250,000 would you spend all that money on a single engine 24' bay boat?
So on the Contender did anyone open any the hatches during preliminary design and prototype? 26' boat and there's not enough room to make the console seat lid open all the way, and the phone storage hatch on the console hits the steering wheel?? The two adjacent livewells in the back deck has to be a joke. Two huge hatches in the rear and both are more suited for bilge access than any type of storage. But like just about every other "Bay boat" made these days it appears made to suit the sandbar rather than fishing. Too much lack of attention to detail on a $220K boat IMO.
Very cool! Didn’t picture these new bayboats have so much perks built into them compared to years back.
Just upgraded from the YF bay to the 26. Never had any issues w water in the trolling battery compartment. I think the finishes on the YF 24 are far superior. I like the 400 on this one, mine had a 300 Verado and when the rear livewell was full it felt grossly underpowered with a few guys onboard. Found there to be plenty of space behind the leaning post. Great for bay and inshore, running out to the reef, miserable ride in greater than 2ft seas. If you fish live bait, i would build one with the leaning post livewell - laying out on the transom every time I needed a bait was annoying. The little amount of space in the cockpit behind the leaning post and the tiny bilge access on the Contender looks like a deal killer, but that’s just me. With both, i would consider adding an extra house battery….those big MFDs and stereos systems are juice hogs
Its the small details to me that Yellowfin wins on this one. Larger bilge access, hidden battery compartment, and the rounded cutouts on the anchor chest door. Not to mention almost 50K cheaper. Im a Yamaha outboard believer but today's Mercs are just as quiet and reliable so either way in my opinion is solid. Either of these boats are solid choices.
I have been fortunate to have owned both of these boats (2014 YF bay) (2016 Contender bay) and the Contender rides much better and even has the capacity to handle some offshore. The YF handles a bay chop decently yet offshore the ride is subpar and very wet. 2023 YF is still the same hull as mine was and the 2023 Contender bay has been made to ride even better so I would imagine the disparity from YF to Contender ride is even bigger for the 2023 models. Best of luck in your search.
ty for comment
well what I notice was the contender had more seating I think 8. then the yellowfin was 4. I didn't see built in seating in the back on yellow fin. look like the yellow fin was a better fishing boat for couple buddies. The contender look like a family fishing boat.
wowzers on pricing. definitely not boats for a metal worker like myself. badass tho!
That’s not a fish box over the front batteries...fyi
I agree not sure he has any idea what hes talking about
Love the yellowfin. Would have appreciated a look at the hull though.
Have driven both can't go wrong either way both bad ass
Both are nice boats, but the Contender rides a whole lot better than the YF, I'm not sure about the helm on the YF. It looks very tight to get in there. Basically, the ride is gonna pay dividends with the Contender. IMO
I like those latches on the yf for sure. Tired of the twist stuff.
Definitely not my cup of tea … the spacing on the contender helm seat was off but , I liked the fish box ! The yellow fin looked like it was for keeping live fish better. Fit and finish on the latches on the yellow fin we’re better but the t-tops aren’t big at all. Hard to say who the winner is on those two .. just depends on how many screens you want 😂
I really would have thought the yellowfin would have been the higher priced boat.
Not sure where pathfinder ranks. But I’ll stay with my 21 2400 trs w 300 Yamaha helm master. 3 live wells and more storage space than what I need.
Put Rods in that leaning post and you can't walk behind it.
Wow those bay boats were as much as a nice house. I can’t believe how much boat prices have sky rocketed like they have.
Yellowfin all day everyday!
Both boats have many different options, I'd like to know fuel capacity, beam, and deadrise. Both are way overpriced.
Yellowfin seems much better
Canyon Bay beats both.
Buy the old 25 Bay
I have a 25 on order. Is it actually better than the 26 for any reason other than price?
FFS there is no metric that justifies a $1/4 million single engine bay boat. Think about it! If some one gave you $250,000 would you spend all that money on a single engine 24' bay boat?
If you have to spend ALL your money to buy something then you can’t afford it and SHOULDNT buy it. Not that I’m onboard with these prices.