Larson Cabrio 857 2012 vs Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 or the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 is the longer of the two at 28,1 feet overall. The Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 26,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 or the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008?

For trailering, the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 has the edge at 665 lbs dry weight versus 3 245 lbs for the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. 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 LXi 208 I/O 2008 is rated to a maximum of 270 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 tops out at 3 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 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 is certified for 9. 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 2012 measures 106" wide, compared to 94" for the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. 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 2012 or the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 has the bigger tank at 84 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. That 55-gallon difference translates to roughly 165–275 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 and Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 and the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 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 2012 vs Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008

Larson

Larson Cabrio 857 2012

2012

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Larson

Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008

2008

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Larson Cabrio 857 2012 vs Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Larson Cabrio 857 2012 against a modified vee Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 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 2012 measures 28,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 26,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 tips the scales at 3 245 lbs — 2 580 lbs less than the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 at 665 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 270 hp, the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 has a 267-hp advantage over the Larson Cabrio 857 2012's 3-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 2012 carries 84 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. 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 LXi 208 I/O 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLarson

ModelCabrio 857

ModelLXi 208 I/O

Model Year2012

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 10 in. (2.69 m)

Beam7 ft. 10 in. (2.39 m)

Beam - Meters2.69

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Inches106

Beam - Inches94

Bridge clearance - Detail9 ft. 2 in. (2.8 m) with arch 7 ft. 10 in. (2.39 m) without arch

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.79

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches11

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20°

Deadrise21℃

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

Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (83.9 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches36

Draft [max] - Inches33

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

Weight - Detail3,245 lbs. (1,472 kg)

Weight - kg3016.39

Weight - kg1471.91

Weight - lbs.665

Weight - lbs.3245

Length - Feet28.08

Length - Feet2

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

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.37 m)

Length overall - Meters8.56

Length overall - Meters6.32

Length overall - Inches337

Length overall - Inches249

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.37

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches9

Body / Hull

Hull materialComposite

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

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

Engine makenot available

Engine model350 Mag MPI EC BIII

Engine modelnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail84 gal. (318 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (109.8 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters317.97

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Gal84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard/Outboard

Horsepower3

Horsepowernot available

Engine maxnot available

Engine max270 hp

Operational Info

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

Headroomnot available

Water capacity19 gal. (72 l)

Water capacitynot available

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 capacity1,400 lbs. (635 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people9

Larson Cabrio 857 2012 vs Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 or the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 is the longer of the two at 28,1 feet overall. The Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 26,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 or the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008?

For trailering, the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 has the edge at 665 lbs dry weight versus 3 245 lbs for the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. 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 LXi 208 I/O 2008 is rated to a maximum of 270 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 tops out at 3 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 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 is certified for 9. 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 2012 measures 106" wide, compared to 94" for the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. 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 2012 or the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008?

The Larson Cabrio 857 2012 has the bigger tank at 84 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008. That 55-gallon difference translates to roughly 165–275 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 and Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Larson Cabrio 857 2012 and the Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 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 2012 full specs ← Larson LXi 208 I/O 2008 full specs