Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 2011 vs Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 2011 against a deep vee Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 measures 34,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 15,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 2011 at 19,3 feet (2011). At 3 lbs and 16 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 900 hp, the Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 has a 675-hp advantage over the Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 2011's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 carries 372 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 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 Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Hydra-Sports 3600 VX 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 34,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hydra-Sports 23 Bay Bolt 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeHydra-Sports
MakeHydra-Sports
Model23 Bay Bolt
Model3600 VX
Model Year2011
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.7 m)
Beam11 ft. 6 in. (3.32 m)
Beam - Meters2.49
Beam - Meters3.51
Beam - Inches98
Beam - Inches138
Deadrise14°
Deadrise23°
Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in. (0.25 m)
Draft [drive up] - Detail26 in. (0.66 m)
Draft [drive up] meters0.25
Draft [drive up] meters0.66
Draft [drive up] inches1
Draft [drive up] inches26
Weight - Detail3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg)
Weight - Detail16,000 lbs. (7,257 kg)
Weight - kg1360.78
Weight - kg7257.47
Weight - lbs.3
Weight - lbs.16
Length - Feet19.25
Length - Feet34.67
Length overall - Detail19 ft. 3 in. (5.87 m)
Length overall - Detail34 ft. 8 in. (10.62 m)
Length overall - Meters5.87
Length overall - Meters10.57
Length overall - Inches231
Length overall - Inches416
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - DetailHardtop: 10 ft. 5 in. (3.15 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters3.18
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches125
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail372 gal. (1,408 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1408.17
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal372
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max225 hp (167.9 kW)
Engine max900 hp (671 kW)
Operational Info
StorageLivewell: 15 gal. (56.78 l)
Storagenot available
Water capacityFreshwater: 8 gal. (30.28 l)
Water capacityFreshwater: 40 gal. (151 l)