When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Dorado 19 Skiff 2009 and the Dorado 30 LX Diesel I/O 2009 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Dorado 19 Skiff 2009 measures 18,8 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 15,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Dorado 30 LX Diesel I/O 2009 at 3,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dorado 19 Skiff 2009 tips the scales at 575 lbs — 520 lbs more than the Dorado 30 LX Diesel I/O 2009 at 55 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Dorado 30 LX Diesel I/O 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Dorado 19 Skiff 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Dorado 30 LX Diesel I/O 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Dorado 30 LX Diesel I/O 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 3,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Dorado 19 Skiff 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.