The Contender 38 Express 2007 vs Contender 39 Tournament 2011 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Contender 38 Express 2007 at 39,0 ft versus Contender 39 Tournament 2011 at 39,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contender 38 Express 2007 tips the scales at 16 422 lbs — 16 268 lbs more than the Contender 39 Tournament 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 Tournament 2011 has a 300-hp advantage over the Contender 38 Express 2007's 1 100-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 38 Express 2007 carries 48 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Contender 39 Tournament 2011. 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 38 Express 2007 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Contender 39 Tournament 2011 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contender 38 Express 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Contender 38 Express 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 39,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Contender 39 Tournament 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.