When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Four Winns SL242 2011 and the Four Winns SL262 2009 are modified 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 SL242 2011 at 24,4 ft versus Four Winns SL262 2009 at 26,0 ft. At 508 lbs and 559 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 380 hp for the Four Winns SL242 2011 and 375 hp for the Four Winns SL262 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Four Winns SL262 2009 carries 75 gallons versus 58 gallons in the Four Winns SL242 2011. 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 SL262 2009 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Four Winns SL242 2011 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 SL262 2009 could be the deciding factor.