Matching a deep vee Contender 25 Tournament 2013 against a modified vee Contender 27 Open 2007 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Contender 25 Tournament 2013 measures 25,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 22,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Contender 27 Open 2007 at 3,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contender 25 Tournament 2013 tips the scales at 625 lbs — 592 lbs more than the Contender 27 Open 2007 at 33 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 500 hp, the Contender 27 Open 2007 has a 100-hp advantage over the Contender 25 Tournament 2013's 400-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Contender 25 Tournament 2013 carries 175 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Contender 27 Open 2007. 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 27 Open 2007 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Contender 25 Tournament 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 27 Open 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Contender 27 Open 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 3,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Contender 25 Tournament 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.