Both the Four Winns H240 2009 and the Four Winns H260SS 2010 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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 - Four Winns H240 2009 at 24,0 ft versus Four Winns H260SS 2010 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns H260SS 2010 tips the scales at 4 820 lbs - 370 lbs less than the Four Winns H240 2009 at 4 450 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 375 hp, the Four Winns H240 2009 has a 55-hp advantage over the Four Winns H260SS 2010's 320-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Four Winns H260SS 2010 carries 75 gallons versus 58 gallons in the Four Winns H240 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 Four Winns H260SS 2010 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Four Winns H240 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns H260SS 2010 could be the deciding factor.