Amels La Familia 2016 boat specs
Amels
Amels La Familia 2016
2016
View full specs →
VS
Amels Sarah 2002 boat specs
Amels
Amels Sarah 2002
2002
View full specs →

Amels La Familia 2016 vs Amels Sarah 2002 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Amels La Familia 2016 vs Amels Sarah 2002 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 Amels Sarah 2002 measures 203,0 feet overall (2002), giving it roughly 23,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Amels La Familia 2016 at 180,0 feet (2016). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Amels Sarah 2002 tips the scales at 2 740 000 lbs — 1 398 000 lbs less than the Amels La Familia 2016 at 1 342 000 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 2 502 hp, the Amels Sarah 2002 has a 1 094-hp advantage over the Amels La Familia 2016's 1 408-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Amels La Familia 2016 carries 30 379 gallons versus 317 gallons in the Amels Sarah 2002. 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 Amels Sarah 2002 is rated for 61 passengers, while the Amels La Familia 2016 caps at 54. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Amels Sarah 2002 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Amels Sarah 2002 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 61 passengers and at 203,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Amels La Familia 2016 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 54 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail180.00 ft
Length overall - Detail203.00 ft
Length - Feet180
Length - Feet203
Length overall - Meters54.86
Length overall - Meters61.87
Length overall - Inches2160
Length overall - Inches2436
Beam31.00 ft
Beam38.90 ft
Beam - Meters9.45
Beam - Meters11.86
Beam - Inches372
Beam - Inches467
Draft [max] - Detail11.00 ft
Draft [max] - Detail12.00 ft
Draft [max] - Meters3.35
Draft [max] - Meters3.66
Draft [max] - Inches132
Draft [max] - Inches144
Displacement1342000.00 lbs
Displacement2740000.00 lbs
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal30379
Fuel tank capacity - Gal317
Fuel tank capacity - Liters114996.97
Fuel tank capacity - Liters119997.5
Engine makeMTU
Engine makeCaterpillar
Engine model16V 2000 M7
Engine model3516B DITA
Horsepower1408 hp
Horsepower2502 hp
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typenot available
Engine 2 Engine MakeMTU
Engine 2 Engine MakeCaterpillar
Engine 2 Engine Model16V 2000 M7
Engine 2 Engine Model3516B DITA
Engine 2 Horsepower1408 hp
Engine 2 Horsepower2502 hp
Engine 2 Fuel TypeDiesel
Engine 2 Fuel Typenot available
Performance
Cruising speed13
Cruising speed12
Cruising speed measureknots
Cruising speed measureknots
Maximum speed15.5
Maximum speed17
Maximum speed measureknots
Maximum speed measureknots
Operational Info
Cabins5
Cabins9
Water capacity4623
Water capacity9246
Boat typePower
Boat typePower

Amels La Familia 2016 vs Amels Sarah 2002 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Amels La Familia 2016 or the Amels Sarah 2002?
The Amels Sarah 2002 is the longer of the two at 203,0 feet overall. The Amels La Familia 2016 comes in at 180,0 feet, making it roughly 23,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Amels La Familia 2016 or the Amels Sarah 2002?
For trailering, the Amels La Familia 2016 has the edge at 1 342 000 lbs dry weight versus 2 740 000 lbs for the Amels Sarah 2002. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Amels Sarah 2002 is rated to a maximum of 2 502 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Amels La Familia 2016 tops out at 1 408 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Amels La Familia 2016 is Coast Guard rated for 54 passengers, while the Amels Sarah 2002 is certified for 61. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Amels Sarah 2002 measures 467" wide, compared to 372" for the Amels La Familia 2016. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Amels La Familia 2016 or the Amels Sarah 2002?
The Amels La Familia 2016 has the bigger tank at 30 379 gallons, versus 317 gallons on the Amels Sarah 2002. That 30062-gallon difference translates to roughly 90186–150310 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Amels La Familia 2016 and Amels Sarah 2002 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Amels La Familia 2016 and the Amels Sarah 2002 are built by Amels. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.