When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011 and the Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 2010 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 425 hp, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 2010 has a 25-hp advantage over the Beneteau Barracuda 9 2011's 400-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 Swift Trawler 34 2010 carries 211 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 Swift Trawler 34 2010 is rated for 11 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 Swift Trawler 34 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 36,6 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.