When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Nitro 288 Sport 2009 and the Nitro 929 CDX 2008 are modified vee designs with aluminum 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Nitro 288 Sport 2009 at 2,0 ft versus Nitro 929 CDX 2008 at 2,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nitro 929 CDX 2008 tips the scales at 1 919 lbs — 114 lbs less than the Nitro 288 Sport 2009 at 1 805 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 300 hp, the Nitro 929 CDX 2008 has a 75-hp advantage over the Nitro 288 Sport 2009's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Nitro 929 CDX 2008 carries 57 gallons versus 39 gallons in the Nitro 288 Sport 2009. 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 Nitro 288 Sport 2009 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Nitro 929 CDX 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nitro 288 Sport 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Nitro 929 CDX 2008 comes in at 6 lbs per hp versus 8 lbs per hp for the Nitro 288 Sport 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Nitro 929 CDX 2008 has a documented top speed of 66 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
Bottom line: Choose the Nitro 288 Sport 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nitro 929 CDX 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.