When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Four Winns SL242 2012 and the Four Winns V305 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Four Winns V305 2013 measures 30,4 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Four Winns SL242 2012 at 24,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns SL242 2012 tips the scales at 508 lbs — 400 lbs more than the Four Winns V305 2013 at 108 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 Four Winns SL242 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Four Winns V305 2013 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns SL242 2012 could be the deciding factor.