When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Duckworth 24 2011 and the Duckworth 30 2011 are deep vee designs with aluminum 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 Duckworth 24 2011 measures 24,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 21,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Duckworth 30 2011 at 3,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Duckworth 24 2011 tips the scales at 372 lbs — 318 lbs more than the Duckworth 30 2011 at 54 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 500 hp, the Duckworth 30 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Duckworth 24 2011's 450-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Duckworth 30 2011 carries 13 gallons versus 8 gallons in the Duckworth 24 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Duckworth 30 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Duckworth 24 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Duckworth 30 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Duckworth 30 2011 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 Duckworth 24 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.