When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Contender 35 Side 2012 and the Contender 35 Tournament 2013 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Contender 35 Side 2012 at 35,2 ft versus Contender 35 Tournament 2013 at 34,8 ft. At 75 lbs and 135 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 050 hp, the Contender 35 Tournament 2013 has a 300-hp advantage over the Contender 35 Side 2012's 750-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 35 Side 2012 carries 34 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Contender 35 Tournament 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 10 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.