The Beneteau Antares 7 2020 vs Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Beneteau Antares 7 2020 at 24,6 ft versus Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 at 26,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 tips the scales at 5 830 lbs — 1 673 lbs less than the Beneteau Antares 7 2020 at 4 157 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 has a 100-hp advantage over the Beneteau Antares 7 2020's 200-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 carries 74 gallons versus 45 gallons in the Beneteau Antares 7 2020. 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 Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Beneteau Antares 7 2020 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Beneteau Barracuda 8 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 26,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Beneteau Antares 7 2020 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.