Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 has the edge at 4 400 lbs dry weight versus 6 100 lbs for the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 has a documented max rating of 300 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 were not available in our database - check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

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 340 Sportfish 2005 is certified for 10. 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 340 Sportfish 2005 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005?

The Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 has the bigger tank at 272 gallons, versus 80 gallons on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. That 192-gallon difference translates to roughly 576–960 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 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 340 Sportfish 2005

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004

2004

View full specs →

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 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.

The Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 tops out at 300 hp. Engine specs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 aren't listed - confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 carries 272 gallons versus 80 gallons in the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. 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 Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 34,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBaja Marine

Model242 Islander

Model340 Sportfish

Model Year2004

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in.

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise24℃

Weight - Detail4,400 lbs.

Weight - Detail6,100 lbs. (2,766.9 kg)

Weight - kg1995.8

Weight - kg2766.91

Weight - lbs.4400

Weight - lbs.6100

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in.

Length overall - Detail34 ft. 1 in. (10.39 m)

Length overall - Meters7.37

Length overall - Meters10.39

Length overall - Inches290

Length overall - Inches409

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail34 in.

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches34

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters10.39

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet34

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches1

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail272 gal. (1,029.6 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Liters1029.63

Fuel tank capacity - Gal80

Fuel tank capacity - Gal272

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardMercury 225 HP XL/CXL EFI Saltwater Classic/Pre-Rig Pkg/SS Props

Fuel systemnot available

Fuel systemFuel Tank with Electric Gauge

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Engine maxnot available

Engine max300 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people8 Passenger

Maximum people10

Sleeping capacitynot available

Sleeping capacity2

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 has the edge at 4 400 lbs dry weight versus 6 100 lbs for the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 has a documented max rating of 300 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 were not available in our database - check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 is certified for 10. 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 340 Sportfish 2005 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005?

The Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 has the bigger tank at 272 gallons, versus 80 gallons on the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004. That 192-gallon difference translates to roughly 576–960 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 340 Sportfish 2005 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 340 Sportfish 2005 full specs