The Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 vs Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 measures 50,7 feet overall (2023), giving it roughly 8,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 at 42,2 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 tips the scales at 47 400 lbs — 23 149 lbs less than the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 at 24 251 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 110 hp, the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 has a 56-hp advantage over the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013's 54-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 carries 185 gallons versus 50 gallons in the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013. 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 Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 displaces 47 400 lbs — a 23 149-lb difference over the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 at 24 251 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 7,2 ft and 7,7 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 uses a 2 wheels versus a 1 wheel on the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 carries a 110-hp engine against 54 hp on the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
Hull speed is rated at 8,8 knots for the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 and 8,3 knots for the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 carries 185 gallons versus 83 gallons on the Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 47 400 lbs displacement and 51 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Contest Yachts 42CS 2013 at 24 251 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.