When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Fish-Rite Baja XL 24 ft. 2008 and the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2008 are modified 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 Fish-Rite Baja XL 24 ft. 2008 measures 24,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 22,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2008 tips the scales at 1 195 lbs — 1 180 lbs less than the Fish-Rite Baja XL 24 ft. 2008 at 15 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 Fish-Rite Baja XL 24 ft. 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2008 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fish-Rite Baja XL 24 ft. 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Fish-Rite Baja XL 24 ft. 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.