Matching a modified vee Contender 36 Fish Around 2007 against a deep vee Contender 40 Express 2012 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Contender 40 Express 2012 measures 39,9 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Contender 36 Fish Around 2007 at 36,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contender 40 Express 2012 tips the scales at 16 422 lbs — 16 277 lbs less than the Contender 36 Fish Around 2007 at 145 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 1 100 hp, the Contender 40 Express 2012 has a 200-hp advantage over the Contender 36 Fish Around 2007's 900-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 40 Express 2012 carries 48 gallons versus 42 gallons in the Contender 36 Fish Around 2007. 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 40 Express 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Contender 36 Fish Around 2007 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 40 Express 2012 could be the deciding factor.