When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Dorado 30 Pro Guide 2009 and the Dorado 42 Express 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 42 Express 2009 measures 42,8 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 39,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Dorado 30 Pro Guide 2009 at 3,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dorado 42 Express 2009 tips the scales at 175 lbs — 120 lbs less than the Dorado 30 Pro Guide 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.
The Dorado 42 Express 2009 tops out at 45 hp. Engine specs for the Dorado 30 Pro Guide 2009 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 1 gal and 4 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Dorado 42 Express 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Dorado 30 Pro Guide 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Dorado 42 Express 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Dorado 42 Express 2009 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 30 Pro Guide 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.