When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Contender 35 ST 2011 and the Contender 39 ST 2011 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Contender 39 ST 2011 measures 39,1 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Contender 35 ST 2011 at 34,8 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contender 35 ST 2011 tips the scales at 1 156 lbs — 1 002 lbs more than the Contender 39 ST 2011 at 154 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 1 400 hp, the Contender 39 ST 2011 has a 350-hp advantage over the Contender 35 ST 2011's 1 050-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 4 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Contender 39 ST 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Contender 35 ST 2011 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 39 ST 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Contender 39 ST 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 39,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Contender 35 ST 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.