The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 vs Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 at 50,7 ft versus Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 2018 at 52,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 tips the scales at 47 400 lbs — 10 804 lbs more than the Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 2018 at 36 596 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 Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 carries a rated maximum of 110 hp. Engine data for the Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 2018 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 2018 carries 476 gallons versus 185 gallons in the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
Both boats are rated for 15 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.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 displaces 47 400 lbs — a 10 804-lb difference over the Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 2018 at 36 596 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.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 draws 7,7 ft, compared to 2,1 ft for the Contest Yachts 52MC Classic 2018. That 5,6-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 50CS 2023 uses Sloop rigging. The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 has a documented auxiliary engine of 110 hp.
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 52MC Classic 2018 at 36 596 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.