When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2010 and the Cobalt Boats 243 2013 are deep 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 — Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2010 at 23,9 ft versus Cobalt Boats 243 2013 at 23,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 243 2013 tips the scales at 485 lbs — 439 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2010 at 46 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 430 hp, the Cobalt Boats 243 2013 has a 130-hp advantage over the Cobalt Boats 242WSS 2010's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 13 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.