When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Larson Cabrio 290 2008 and the Larson LXi 288 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 Cabrio 290 2008 at 27,0 ft versus Larson LXi 288 2009 at 29,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Larson LXi 288 2009 tips the scales at 6 225 lbs — 6 216 lbs less than the Larson Cabrio 290 2008 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 Cabrio 290 2008 carries a rated maximum of 320 hp. Engine data for the Larson LXi 288 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.