Larson Cabrio 857 2011 vs Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 or the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is the longer of the two at 28,2 feet overall. The Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 comes in at 23,5 feet, making it roughly 4,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 or the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012?

For trailering, the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 has the edge at 444 lbs dry weight versus 665 lbs for the Larson Cabrio 857 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is rated to a maximum of 400 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 tops out at 26 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 measures 106" wide, compared to 102" for the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 or the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 has the bigger tank at 84 gallons, versus 56 gallons on the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012. That 28-gallon difference translates to roughly 84–140 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 and Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 and the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 are built by Larson. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Larson Cabrio 857 2011 vs Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012

Larson

Larson Cabrio 857 2011

2011

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Larson

Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Larson Cabrio 857 2011 vs Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Larson Cabrio 857 2011 against a modified vee Larson LXi 238 I/O 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 Larson Cabrio 857 2011 measures 28,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 at 23,5 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 tips the scales at 665 lbs — 221 lbs more than the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 at 444 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 400 hp, the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 has a 374-hp advantage over the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012's 26-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 carries 84 gallons versus 56 gallons in the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012. 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 Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLarson

ModelCabrio 857

ModelLXi 238 I/O

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 10 in. (2.69 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.69

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches106

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 10 in. (2.39 m) without arch 9 ft. 2 in. (2.8 m) with arch

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.79

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches11

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20°

Deadrise22°

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (91.4 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (88.9 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.89

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches35

Weight - Detail6,650 lbs. (3,016 kg)

Weight - Detail4,440 lbs. (2,010 kg) with base engine (5.0L)

Weight - kg3016.39

Weight - kg2013.95

Weight - lbs.665

Weight - lbs.444

Length - Feet28.17

Length - Feet23.5

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 1 in. (8.57 m) with pulpit

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 6 in. (7.16 m)

Length overall - Meters8.56

Length overall - Meters7.16

Length overall - Inches337

Length overall - Inches282

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialComposite

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardMerCruiser 5.0L Mag MPI BIII

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail84 gal. (318 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail56 gal. (212 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters317.97

Fuel tank capacity - Liters211.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal56

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Horsepower300 hp

Horsepower26

Engine max400 hp

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser (catalyst compliant) (mandatory in U.S.)

Engine modelnot available

Engine model5.0L MPI EC BIII

Operational Info

Headroom6 ft. 3 in. (1.91 m) in cabin

Headroomnot available

Water capacity19 gal. (72 l)

Water capacity12 gal. (45.4 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detail12 gal. (45 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters45.42

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal12

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,500 lbs. (680 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people1

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailLXi 5500 DB with swing tongue & chrome wheels

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all28 ft. 4 in. (8.63 m)

Larson Cabrio 857 2011 vs Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 or the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is the longer of the two at 28,2 feet overall. The Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 comes in at 23,5 feet, making it roughly 4,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 or the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012?

For trailering, the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 has the edge at 444 lbs dry weight versus 665 lbs for the Larson Cabrio 857 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is rated to a maximum of 400 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 tops out at 26 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 measures 106" wide, compared to 102" for the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 or the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2011 has the bigger tank at 84 gallons, versus 56 gallons on the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012. That 28-gallon difference translates to roughly 84–140 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 and Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Larson Cabrio 857 2011 and the Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 are built by Larson. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Larson Cabrio 857 2011 full specs ← Larson LXi 238 I/O 2012 full specs