When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 2011 and the Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 Fly 2012 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 2011 at 51,2 ft versus Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 Fly 2012 at 51,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 2011 tips the scales at 25 566 lbs — 22 811 lbs more than the Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 Fly 2012 at 2 755 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 2 hp for the Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 2011 and 2 hp for the Beneteau Flyer Gran Turismo 49 Fly 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 172 gal and 172 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 15 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.