Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 44 lbs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 is certified for 6. 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.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 8 gallons and 8 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 are built by Baja Marine. 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.

Boat Comparison

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004

2004

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Baja Marine

Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBaja Marine

Model242 Islander

Model245 Performance

Model Year2004

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise24℃

Deadrise23℃

Weight - Detail4,400 lbs

Weight - Detail4,000 lbs. (1,814.4 kg)

Weight - kg1995.8

Weight - kg1814.37

Weight - lbs.44

Weight - lbs.4

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 5 in. (7.44 m)

Length overall - Meters7.37

Length overall - Meters7.44

Length overall - Inches29

Length overall - Inches293

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86.36 cm)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches34

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters7.44

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet24

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches5

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal. (302.8 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardMerCruiser MX 6.2L/320 hp

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Maximum people8 Passenger

Maximum people6

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity9 gal. (34.1 l)

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 44 lbs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 is certified for 6. 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 8 gallons and 8 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 are built by Baja Marine. 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.

← Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 full specs ← Baja Marine 245 Performance 2006 full specs