When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2008 and the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 are modified vee 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Beneteau Antares 9.80 2008 measures 32,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 3,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 at 28,8 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2008 tips the scales at 11 762 lbs — 4 709 lbs more than the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 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 Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 tops out at 400 hp. Engine specs for the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2008 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2008 carries 169 gallons versus 106 gallons in the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011. 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 Antares 9.80 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 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 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Beneteau Antares 9.80 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 32,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.