Dorado 23 Classic  2010 boat specs
Dorado
Dorado 23 Classic 2010
2010
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VS
Dorado 42 Pilot House  2010 boat specs
Dorado
Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010
2010
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Dorado 23 Classic 2010 vs Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 and the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 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 42 Pilot House 2010 measures 42,8 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 19,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 at 23,0 feet (2010). At 22 lbs and 13 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 42,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Dorado 23 Classic 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeDorado
MakeDorado
Model23 Classic
Model42 Pilot House
Model Year201
Model Year201
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft
Beam12 ft. 8 in
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Meters3.86
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inches152
Draft [max] - Detail10 in
Draft [max] - Detail30 in
Draft [max] - Meters0.25
Draft [max] - Meters0.76
Draft [max] - Inches1
Draft [max] - Inches3
Weight - Detail2,200 lbs
Weight - Detail13,000 lbs
Weight - kg997.9
Weight - kg5896.7
Weight - lbs.22
Weight - lbs.13
Length - Feet23
Length - Feet42.83
Length overall - Detail23 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail42 ft. 10 in
Length overall - Meters7.01
Length overall - Meters13.06
Length overall - Inches276
Length overall - Inches514
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail400 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1514.16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal7
Fuel tank capacity - Gal4
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeInboard - Twin
BatteryDual Odyssey with selector switch
Battery3 batteries with switches
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelCaterpillar C-9 single
Operational Info
Storage(10) watertight storage hatches
Storagenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity80 gal

Dorado 23 Classic 2010 vs Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 or the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010?
The Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 is the longer of the two at 42,8 feet overall. The Dorado 23 Classic 2010 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 19,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 or the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010?
For trailering, the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 has the edge at 13 lbs dry weight versus 22 lbs for the Dorado 23 Classic 2010. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Dorado 23 Classic 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 is certified for 13. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 measures 152" wide, compared to 96" for the Dorado 23 Classic 2010. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 or the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010?
The Dorado 23 Classic 2010 has the bigger tank at 7 gallons, versus 4 gallons on the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 and Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Dorado 23 Classic 2010 and the Dorado 42 Pilot House 2010 are built by Dorado. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.