Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009 vs Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009 vs Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 measures 24,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 5,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009 at 18,7 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 tips the scales at 5 300 lbs - 2 700 lbs less than the Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009 at 2 600 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 320 hp, the Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 has a 100-hp advantage over the Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009's 220-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 carries 70 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009. 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 Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Ebbtide 2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 12 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Ebbtide 202 SE Bow Rider 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.
General Boat Info
Model202 SE Bow Rider
Model2500 Mid-Cabin Cruiser
Model Year2009
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 1 in. (2.46 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in.
Beam - Meters2.46
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches97
Beam - Inches102
Depth - DetailCenterline at Floor: 32 in. (81.28 cm)
Depth - Detail33 in.
Depth - Centimeters81.28
Depth - Centimeters83.82
Depth - Inches32
Depth - Inches33
Weight - Detail2,600 lbs. (1,179.34 kg)
Weight - Detail5,300 lbs.
Weight - kg1179.34
Weight - kg2404.04
Weight - lbs.2600
Weight - lbs.5300
Length - Feet18.67
Length - Feet24
Length [over all with swim platform]20 ft. 4 in. (6.2)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 8 in. (5.69 m)
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 8 in.
Length overall - Meters5.69
Length overall - Meters7.52
Length overall - Inches224
Length overall - Inches296
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches8
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury MerCruiser
Engine makenot available
Engine modelV-8, 305 ci (5.0 l)
Engine modelnot available
Fuel system2V carb
Fuel systemnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98.42 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail70 gal.
Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42
Fuel tank capacity - Liters264.98
Fuel tank capacity - Gal26
Fuel tank capacity - Gal70
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeI/O
Engine max220 hp (164 kW)
Engine max320 hp
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardMerc 5.7L Alpha 250 hp
Performance
Cruising speed29 mph @ 3,000 rpm
Cruising speednot available
Maximum speed54.7 mph @ 4,500 rpm
Maximum speednot available
Operational Info
Maximum capacityNMMA Rated: 1,450 lbs. (657.71 kg)
Maximum capacity1,950 lbs.
Maximum people9 or 1,350 lbs. (612.35 kg)
Maximum people12
Headnot available
HeadFully enclosed molded fiberglass
Headroomnot available
Headroom6 ft. 1 in.
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity4
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity28 gal.