Contender 23 Open 2012 vs Contender 32ST 2017 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Contender 23 Open 2012 or the Contender 32ST 2017?

The Contender 32ST 2017 is the longer of the two at 32,0 feet overall. The Contender 23 Open 2012 comes in at 23,3 feet, making it roughly 8,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Contender 23 Open 2012 has a documented max rating of 400 hp. Engine specifications for the Contender 32ST 2017 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Contender 23 Open 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Contender 32ST 2017 is certified for 9. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Contender 23 Open 2012 or the Contender 32ST 2017?

The Contender 32ST 2017 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 15 gallons on the Contender 23 Open 2012. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Contender 23 Open 2012 and Contender 32ST 2017 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Contender 23 Open 2012 and the Contender 32ST 2017 are built by Contender. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Contender 23 Open 2012 vs Contender 32ST 2017

Contender

Contender 23 Open 2012

2012

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Contender

Contender 32ST 2017

2017

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Contender 23 Open 2012 vs Contender 32ST 2017 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Contender 23 Open 2012 vs Contender 32ST 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The Contender 23 Open 2012 carries a rated maximum of 400 hp. Engine data for the Contender 32ST 2017 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Contender 32ST 2017 carries 35 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Contender 23 Open 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Contender 32ST 2017 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Contender 23 Open 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 32ST 2017 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Contender 32ST 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 32,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Contender 23 Open 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeContender

Makenot available

Model23 Open

Modelnot available

Model Year2012

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 3 in

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.51

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches99

Beam - Inchesnot available

Deadrise24.5&#176

Deadrisenot available

Draft [max] - Detail18 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.46

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches18

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail2,400 lbs. 4,750 lbs. ready to fish

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg2154.56

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.475

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet23.25

Length - Feet32

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail32.00 ft

Length overall - Meters7.09

Length overall - Meters9.75

Length overall - Inches279

Length overall - Inches384

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail150 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters567.81

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1324.89

Fuel tank capacity - Gal15

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeoutboard

Engine max400 hp

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeYamaha

Operational Info

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Contender 23 Open 2012 vs Contender 32ST 2017 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Contender 23 Open 2012 or the Contender 32ST 2017?

The Contender 32ST 2017 is the longer of the two at 32,0 feet overall. The Contender 23 Open 2012 comes in at 23,3 feet, making it roughly 8,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Contender 23 Open 2012 has a documented max rating of 400 hp. Engine specifications for the Contender 32ST 2017 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Contender 23 Open 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Contender 32ST 2017 is certified for 9. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Contender 23 Open 2012 or the Contender 32ST 2017?

The Contender 32ST 2017 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 15 gallons on the Contender 23 Open 2012. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Contender 23 Open 2012 and Contender 32ST 2017 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Contender 23 Open 2012 and the Contender 32ST 2017 are built by Contender. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Contender 23 Open 2012 full specs ← Contender 32ST 2017 full specs