The Makaira Boats GEN3 800 Outboard 2022 vs Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Makaira Boats GEN3 800 Outboard 2022 at 26,2 ft versus Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022 at 28,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022 tips the scales at 8 800 lbs — 1 900 lbs less than the Makaira Boats GEN3 800 Outboard 2022 at 6 900 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 350 hp for the Makaira Boats GEN3 800 Outboard 2022 and 350 hp for the Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 124 gal and 124 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Makaira Boats GEN3 800 Outboard 2022 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Makaira Boats GEN3 850 Outboard 2022 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 Makaira Boats GEN3 800 Outboard 2022 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.