The Beneteau Antares 9.80 2005 vs Beneteau Barracuda 9 2012 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 9.80 2005 at 30,0 ft versus Beneteau Barracuda 9 2012 at 28,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2005 tips the scales at 9 523 lbs — 2 470 lbs more than the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2012 at 7 053 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 400 hp, the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2012 has a 140-hp advantage over the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2005's 260-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 106 gal and 106 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Beneteau Antares 9.80 2005 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 30,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Beneteau Barracuda 9 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.