The Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 vs Contest Yachts 52MC Open Sport T-top 2018 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.

The Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 carries a rated maximum of 80 hp. Engine data for the Contest Yachts 52MC Open Sport T-top 2018 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Contest Yachts 52MC Open Sport T-top 2018 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contest Yachts 52MC Open Sport T-top 2018 could be the deciding factor.

The Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 has a documented displacement of 29 762 lbs. Displacement data wasn't available for the other boat in this comparison.

Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 draws 6,5 ft, compared to 2,1 ft for the Contest Yachts 52MC Open Sport T-top 2018. That 4,4-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.

The Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 uses Sloop rigging. The Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 has a documented auxiliary engine of 80 hp.

For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Contest Yachts 52MC Open Sport T-top 2018 carries 476 gallons versus 111 gallons on the Contest Yachts 45CS 2005 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.