When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Carver Yachts 46 Voyager 2009 and the Carver Yachts 56 Voyager SE 2008 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 Carver Yachts 56 Voyager SE 2008 measures 59,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 12,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Carver Yachts 46 Voyager 2009 at 47,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Carver Yachts 56 Voyager SE 2008 tips the scales at 525 lbs — 129 lbs less than the Carver Yachts 46 Voyager 2009 at 396 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 715 hp, the Carver Yachts 56 Voyager SE 2008 has a 140-hp advantage over the Carver Yachts 46 Voyager 2009's 575-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Carver Yachts 46 Voyager 2009 carries 554 gallons versus 8 gallons in the Carver Yachts 56 Voyager SE 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.