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

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

For trailering, the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 44 lbs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006. 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 2006 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) 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 2006 or the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006 has the bigger tank at 102 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004. That 94-gallon difference translates to roughly 282–470 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

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

Yes — both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006 and the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 2006 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006

2006

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Baja Marine

Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

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

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006 vs Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 2006 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 Year2006

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise24℃

Deadrise23℃

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.5 cm)

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches38

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail4,400 lbs. (1,996 kg)

Weight - Detail4,000 lbs

Weight - kg1995.8

Weight - kg1814.37

Weight - lbs.44

Weight - lbs.4

Length - Meters7.37

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet24

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches2

Length - Inchesnot available

Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 9.5 in. (7.86 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 2 in. (7.37 m)

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Meters7.37

Length overall - Meters6.93

Length overall - Inches29

Length overall - Inches273

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardMerCruiser MX 6.2L/320 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail102 gal. (386 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters386.11

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Gal102

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Operational Info

Maximum people8

Maximum people6 Passenger

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity9 gal

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

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

For trailering, the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 has the edge at 4 lbs dry weight versus 44 lbs for the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006. 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 2006 and Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) 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 2006 or the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004?

The Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006 has the bigger tank at 102 gallons, versus 8 gallons on the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004. That 94-gallon difference translates to roughly 282–470 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

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

Yes — both the Baja Marine 242 Islander 2006 and the Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 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 2006 full specs ← Baja Marine 245 Performance 2004 full specs