When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Contender 36 Fish 2013 and the Contender 39 Tournament 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Contender 36 Fish 2013 at 36,3 ft versus Contender 39 Tournament 2012 at 39,1 ft. At 145 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 Tournament 2012 has a 350-hp advantage over the Contender 36 Fish 2013'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 36 Fish 2013 carries 42 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Contender 39 Tournament 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 11 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.