The AB Yachts 116 2012 vs AB Yachts 120 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 AB Yachts 120 2023 measures 121,1 feet overall (2023), giving it roughly 4,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the AB Yachts 116 2012 at 116,9 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the AB Yachts 120 2023 tips the scales at 297 624 lbs — 99 208 lbs less than the AB Yachts 116 2012 at 198 416 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 2 600 hp for the AB Yachts 116 2012 and 2 600 hp for the AB Yachts 120 2023. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the AB Yachts 120 2023 carries 4 095 gallons versus 4 006 gallons in the AB Yachts 116 2012. 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 AB Yachts 120 2023 is rated for 36 passengers, while the AB Yachts 116 2012 caps at 35. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the AB Yachts 120 2023 could be the deciding factor.