When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Contender 36 Open 2010 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Contender 36 Open 2010 at 36,3 ft versus Contender 39 LS 2012 at 39,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contender 39 LS 2012 tips the scales at 154 lbs — 148 lbs less than the Contender 36 Open 2010 at 6 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 LS 2012 has a 350-hp advantage over the Contender 36 Open 2010'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 36 Open 2010. 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.