When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the EdgeWater 245CX 2010 and the EdgeWater 265EX 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — EdgeWater 245CX 2010 at 24,0 ft versus EdgeWater 265EX 2009 at 27,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the EdgeWater 245CX 2010 tips the scales at 355 lbs — 301 lbs more than the EdgeWater 265EX 2009 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 EdgeWater 265EX 2009 has a 150-hp advantage over the EdgeWater 245CX 2010's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the EdgeWater 245CX 2010 carries 13 gallons versus 2 gallons in the EdgeWater 265EX 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 EdgeWater 265EX 2009 is rated for 12 passengers, while the EdgeWater 245CX 2010 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the EdgeWater 265EX 2009 could be the deciding factor.