When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Doral 255 Monticello 2011 and the Doral 345 Elegante 2011 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 Doral 345 Elegante 2011 measures 37,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 9,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Doral 255 Monticello 2011 at 28,3 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Doral 345 Elegante 2011 tips the scales at 1 551 lbs — 1 487 lbs less than the Doral 255 Monticello 2011 at 64 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 Doral 345 Elegante 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Doral 255 Monticello 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Doral 345 Elegante 2011 could be the deciding factor.