When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Four Winns Horizon 260 2012 and the Four Winns SL242 2013 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 — Four Winns Horizon 260 2012 at 26,0 ft versus Four Winns SL242 2013 at 24,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns SL242 2013 tips the scales at 508 lbs — 457 lbs less than the Four Winns Horizon 260 2012 at 51 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 Four Winns Horizon 260 2012 carries a rated maximum of 380 hp. Engine data for the Four Winns SL242 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Four Winns SL242 2013 carries 58 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Four Winns Horizon 260 2012. 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 Horizon 260 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Four Winns SL242 2013 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 Horizon 260 2012 could be the deciding factor.