Contender by Mystic Express Yacht Project Moving Forward

The first Contender by Mystic Yacht will be a 60-footer and is scheduled to begin production in early 2012.

Renderings for the new 60-foot express yacht from a collaboration between Mystic Powerboats and Contender Boats are complete, and the first stepped-hull, epoxy-built models will begin construction in early 2012. The 60-footer will be the first in a series of express yachts that will also include 50- and 70-foot models.

“We have really good international interest in the yachts,” said John Cosker, the principal of Mystic, which is based in DeLand, Fla. “The high-tech construction, speed and fuel efficiency makes them particularly appealing overseas.”

Mystic’s partnership in the Mystic-Contender yacht project grew out of Cosker’s redesign of Contender’s conventional hulls to a stepped bottom configuration for Contender’s 30-, 33-, 35- and 39-foot center console models, which began in 2007.

Guest stateroom rendering detail.

“After finishing the hull designs we have now begun what Contender calls its ‘LS,’ meaning Luxury Sport, line,” said Cosker. “A traditional Contender is a hardcore tournament fishing boat. The new LS line is more of an all-around recreational, dive-fish, luxury cruising series with softer lines and more amenities.  The Contender by Mystic Yacht Line will extend the current LS range up to 70 feet and hopefully beyond in the future.”

Contender’s renowned conventional V-bottom center consoles are still offered.

Master stateroom rendering detail.

According to Cosker, the partnership plan is for Contender to handle sales, marketing and all of the small-parts production at its plant in Homestead, Fla. Mystic, in turn, will handle hull and deck lamination, outfitting and rigging.  Contender has a long history of boat building and will bring production engineering to the line, which will streamline bringing the yachts to market, said Cosker.

The new yacht line will tap into Cosker’s long history of designing and building stepped bottom design models that are lightweight yet strong and durable. The yachts will boast the same epoxy construction that is standard for Mystic’s 200-plus-mph offshore catamarans and surface drive/diesel propulsion offerings.

The 60-footer shown in this rendering with be followed by 50- and 70-footers.