When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Maritime 2090 2008 and the Maritime 23-CH 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Maritime 23-CH 2009 measures 23,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 21,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Maritime 2090 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Maritime 23-CH 2009 tips the scales at 305 lbs — 150 lbs less than the Maritime 2090 2008 at 155 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Maritime 2090 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Maritime 23-CH 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Maritime 2090 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Maritime 2090 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Maritime 23-CH 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.