Both the Nautique 230 2013 and the Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Nautique 230 2013 at 23,0 ft versus Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012 at 21,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautique 230 2013 tips the scales at 4 400 lbs - 500 lbs more than the Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012 at 3 900 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 450 hp, the Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012 has a 107-hp advantage over the Nautique 230 2013's 343-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Nautique 230 2013 carries 47 gallons versus 40 gallons in the Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nautique 230 2013 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nautique 230 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Nautique 230 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 16 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nautique Byerly Icon Edition 210 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.