When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Larson 288 LXi 2010 and the Larson Cabrio 290 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 — Larson 288 LXi 2010 at 29,2 ft versus Larson Cabrio 290 2009 at 27,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Larson 288 LXi 2010 tips the scales at 597 lbs — 588 lbs more than the Larson Cabrio 290 2009 at 9 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 Larson 288 LXi 2010 carries a rated maximum of 425 hp. Engine data for the Larson Cabrio 290 2009 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 1 gal and 1 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

The Larson 288 LXi 2010 is rated for up to 8 people. Passenger data for the Larson Cabrio 290 2009 wasn't available.