The Monterey 224 FS 2015 vs Monterey 243 EX 2008 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 — Monterey 224 FS 2015 at 22,9 ft versus Monterey 243 EX 2008 at 25,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Monterey 224 FS 2015 tips the scales at 3 500 lbs — 3 495 lbs more than the Monterey 243 EX 2008 at 5 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 — 300 hp for the Monterey 224 FS 2015 and 320 hp for the Monterey 243 EX 2008. 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 — 55 gal and 57 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Monterey 243 EX 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Monterey 224 FS 2015 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Monterey 243 EX 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Monterey 243 EX 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Monterey 224 FS 2015 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.