The Cruisers Yachts 300 CXi 2008 is a modified-V design and the Cruisers Yachts 520 Express 2009 is a semi-displacement design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably 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 Cruisers Yachts 520 Express 2009 measures 52,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 21,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Cruisers Yachts 300 CXi 2008 at 31,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cruisers Yachts 520 Express 2009 tips the scales at 42 000 lbs - 31 000 lbs less than the Cruisers Yachts 300 CXi 2008 at 11 000 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 Cruisers Yachts 520 Express 2009 has a 445-hp advantage over the Cruisers Yachts 300 CXi 2008's 270-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Cruisers Yachts 520 Express 2009 carries 500 gallons versus 125 gallons in the Cruisers Yachts 300 CXi 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.