When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Marquis Yachts 520 2009 and the Marquis Yachts 560 2012 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 560 2012 measures 57,4 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Marquis Yachts 520 2009 at 51,6 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marquis Yachts 520 2009 tips the scales at 56 227 lbs — 56 165 lbs more than the Marquis Yachts 560 2012 at 62 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 520 2009 is rated for up to 14 people. Passenger data for the Marquis Yachts 560 2012 wasn't available.