When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Marquis Yachts 420 Sport Coupe 2011 and the Marquis Yachts 520 2009 are semi displacement 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 Marquis Yachts 520 2009 measures 51,6 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 8,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Marquis Yachts 420 Sport Coupe 2011 at 43,6 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marquis Yachts 520 2009 tips the scales at 56 227 lbs — 56 196 lbs less than the Marquis Yachts 420 Sport Coupe 2011 at 31 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 Marquis Yachts 420 Sport Coupe 2011 carries a rated maximum of 174 hp. Engine data for the Marquis Yachts 520 2009 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 6 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.