Monterey 260SY 2013 vs Monterey M3 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Monterey 260SY 2013 or the Monterey M3 2011?

The Monterey 260SY 2013 is the longer of the two at 27,5 feet overall. The Monterey M3 2011 comes in at 23,8 feet, making it roughly 3,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Monterey 260SY 2013 or the Monterey M3 2011?

For trailering, the Monterey M3 2011 has the edge at 45 lbs dry weight versus 72 lbs for the Monterey 260SY 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Monterey 260SY 2013 and Monterey M3 2011 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Monterey 260SY 2013 or the Monterey M3 2011?

The Monterey 260SY 2013 has the bigger tank at 8 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Monterey M3 2011. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Monterey 260SY 2013 and Monterey M3 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Monterey 260SY 2013 and the Monterey M3 2011 are built by Monterey. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Monterey 260SY 2013 vs Monterey M3 2011

Monterey

Monterey 260SY 2013

2013

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Monterey

Monterey M3 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Monterey 260SY 2013 vs Monterey M3 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Monterey 260SY 2013 against a modified vee Monterey M3 2011 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Monterey 260SY 2013 measures 27,5 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Monterey M3 2011 at 23,8 feet (2011). At 72 lbs and 45 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 320 hp for the Monterey 260SY 2013 and 320 hp for the Monterey M3 2011. 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 — 8 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Bottom line: The Monterey 260SY 2013 at 27,5 ft is the right call if deck space, comfort, and entertaining are top of your list. The Monterey M3 2011 at 23,8 ft wins on trailering ease, likely lower purchase price, and simpler docking — a solid choice for a buyer who wants more boat for less money.

General Boat Info

MakeMonterey

Model260SY

ModelM3

Model Year2013

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - DetailWith Arch: 8 ft. 10 in. (2.69 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.69

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches106

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise17℃

Deadrise20°

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in. (68.58 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in. (0.68 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.69

Draft [drive up] inches27

Draft [max] - Detail40 in. (101.6 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (0.99 m)

Draft [max] - Meters1.02

Draft [max] - Meters0.99

Draft [max] - Inches4

Draft [max] - Inches39

Weight - Detail7,200 lbs. (3,266 kg)

Weight - Detail4,500 lbs. (2,041 kg)

Weight - kg3265.86

Weight - kg2041.16

Weight - lbs.72

Weight - lbs.45

Length - Feet27.5

Length - Feet23.83

Length [over all with swim platform]27 ft. 6 in. (8.4 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 10 in. (7.04 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal. (302.8 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard

Engine max320 hp (238.6 kW)

Engine max320 hp (223.7 kW)

Operational Info

Headroom6 ft. (1.83 m)

Headroomnot available

Water capacity25 gal. (94.64 l)

Water capacity10 gal. (37.9 l)

Water heater capacity6 gal. (22.7 l)

Water heater capacitynot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail18 gal. (68.14 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters68.14

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal18

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Monterey 260SY 2013 vs Monterey M3 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Monterey 260SY 2013 or the Monterey M3 2011?

The Monterey 260SY 2013 is the longer of the two at 27,5 feet overall. The Monterey M3 2011 comes in at 23,8 feet, making it roughly 3,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Monterey 260SY 2013 or the Monterey M3 2011?

For trailering, the Monterey M3 2011 has the edge at 45 lbs dry weight versus 72 lbs for the Monterey 260SY 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Monterey 260SY 2013 and Monterey M3 2011 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Monterey 260SY 2013 or the Monterey M3 2011?

The Monterey 260SY 2013 has the bigger tank at 8 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Monterey M3 2011. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Monterey 260SY 2013 and Monterey M3 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Monterey 260SY 2013 and the Monterey M3 2011 are built by Monterey. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Monterey 260SY 2013 full specs ← Monterey M3 2011 full specs