Both the Baja Marine 30 Outlaw 2009 and the Baja Marine 342 Performance 2009 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Baja Marine 342 Performance 2009 measures 34,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Baja Marine 30 Outlaw 2009 at 30,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Baja Marine 342 Performance 2009 tips the scales at 8 200 lbs - 1 300 lbs less than the Baja Marine 30 Outlaw 2009 at 6 900 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 - 600 hp for the Baja Marine 30 Outlaw 2009 and 600 hp for the Baja Marine 342 Performance 2009. 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 Baja Marine 342 Performance 2009 carries 185 gallons versus 142 gallons in the Baja Marine 30 Outlaw 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 8 passengers - a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.