When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bay Rider 2260 2012 and the Bay Rider 2460 2011 are flat designs with fiberglass construction — 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bay Rider 2260 2012 at 22,0 ft versus Bay Rider 2460 2011 at 24,0 ft. At 255 lbs and 275 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Bay Rider 2460 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Bay Rider 2260 2012's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 4 gal and 4 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bay Rider 2460 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Bay Rider 2260 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bay Rider 2460 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bay Rider 2460 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bay Rider 2260 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.