Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008 vs Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008 against a deep vee Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 measures 25,2 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 12,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008 at 13,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 tips the scales at 373 lbs — 367 lbs less than the Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008 at 6 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 Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 has a 260-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 carries 122 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008. 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 Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 25,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 130 Sport 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBoston Whaler
MakeBoston Whaler
Model130 Sport
Model235 Conquest?
Model Year2008
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam5 ft. 11 in. (1.8 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters1.8
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches71
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail2 ft. 7 in. (0.78 m) With Sun Top: 5 ft. 9 in. (1.75 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 2 in. (1.8 m) 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m) with hardtop
Bridge clearance - Meters1.75
Bridge clearance - Meters2.64
Bridge clearance - Inches69
Bridge clearance - Inches104
Draft [max] - DetailBoat Only: 7 in. (0.17 m)
Draft [max] - Detail15 in. (0.38 m) boat only
Draft [max] - Meters0.18
Draft [max] - Meters0.38
Draft [max] - Inches7
Draft [max] - Inches15
Weight - Detail600 lbs. (272 kg)
Weight - Detail3,730 lbs. (1,692 kg) no engine
Weight - kg272.16
Weight - kg1691.9
Weight - lbs.6
Weight - lbs.373
Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)
Height [transom]30 in. (0.76 m)
Length - Meters4.03
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet13
Length - Feet25.17
Length - Inches3
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail13 ft. 3 in. (4.03 m)
Length overall - Detail25 ft. 2 in. (7.67 m) with pulpit 23 ft. (7.01 m) hull length
Length overall - Meters4.04
Length overall - Meters7.67
Length overall - Inches159
Length overall - Inches302
Deadrisenot available
Deadrise20°
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Detail25 in. (0.63 m) cockpit depth
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters63.5
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches25
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard40 ELPT EFI FourStrokes Mercury? STD
Engine/s standardMercury? Verado? 225 XXL DTS FourStroke with SmartCraft VesselView Display and hydraulic tilt power steering
Fuel tank capacity - Detail6.6 gal. (24 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail122 gal. (461.7 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters26.5
Fuel tank capacity - Liters461.82
Fuel tank capacity - Gal6.6
Fuel tank capacity - Gal122
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine maxMaximum: 40 hp (29 kW) Minimum: 25 hp (18 kW) Maximum Engine Weight: 225 lbs. (102 kg)
Engine maxnot available
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower300 hp (224 kW) maximum
Operational Info
Maximum capacity935 lbs. (424 kg) Swamped Capacity: 1,600 lbs. (725 kg)
Maximum capacity3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg) Swamped Capacity: 4,400 lbs. (1,996 kg)
Maximum people5
Maximum people12
Headroomnot available
Headroom5 ft. (1.52 m) cabin headroom