Both the Crownline 285 SS 2012 and the Crownline 300 LS 2009 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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 - Crownline 285 SS 2012 at 28,5 ft versus Crownline 300 LS 2009 at 30,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crownline 300 LS 2009 tips the scales at 8 900 lbs - 3 200 lbs less than the Crownline 285 SS 2012 at 5 700 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 600 hp, the Crownline 300 LS 2009 has a 170-hp advantage over the Crownline 285 SS 2012's 430-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 84 gal and 84 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crownline 300 LS 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Crownline 285 SS 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crownline 300 LS 2009 could be the deciding factor.