When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Contender 35 Tournament 2012 and the Contender 39 LS 2012 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 LS 2012 measures 39,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Contender 35 Tournament 2012 at 34,8 feet (2012). At 135 lbs and 154 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 1 400 hp, the Contender 39 LS 2012 has a 350-hp advantage over the Contender 35 Tournament 2012's 1 050-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 39 LS 2012 carries 44 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Contender 35 Tournament 2012. 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 39 LS 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Contender 35 Tournament 2012 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 LS 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Contender 39 LS 2012 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 Tournament 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.