The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 vs Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 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 55CS 2020 measures 55,8 feet overall (2020), giving it roughly 5,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 at 50,7 feet (2023). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 tips the scales at 55 027 lbs — 7 627 lbs less than the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 at 47 400 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 150 hp, the Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 has a 40-hp advantage over the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023's 110-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 185 gal and 187 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 displaces 55 027 lbs — a 7 627-lb difference over the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 at 47 400 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 — 7,7 ft and 8,4 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 uses Sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 carries a 150-hp engine against 110 hp on the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 carries 185 gallons versus 159 gallons on the Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Contest Yachts 55CS 2020 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 55 027 lbs displacement and 56 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Contest Yachts 50CS 2023 at 47 400 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.