The Contender 28 Sport 2013 vs Contender 31 Open 2004 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Contender 28 Sport 2013 has a 300-hp advantage over the Contender 31 Open 2004's 300-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 28 Sport 2013 carries 185 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Contender 31 Open 2004. 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 31 Open 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Contender 28 Sport 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 31 Open 2004 could be the deciding factor.