Matching a deep vee Contender 32 ST 2012 against a modified vee Contender 35 Side Console 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Contender 32 ST 2012 at 32,7 ft versus Contender 35 Side Console 2007 at 35,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contender 32 ST 2012 tips the scales at 1 156 lbs — 1 101 lbs more than the Contender 35 Side Console 2007 at 55 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 750 hp, the Contender 35 Side Console 2007 has a 50-hp advantage over the Contender 32 ST 2012's 700-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 31 gal and 34 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Contender 35 Side Console 2007 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Contender 32 ST 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 35 Side Console 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Contender 35 Side Console 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 35,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Contender 32 ST 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.