When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Nordic Boats 21 Cyclone SR 2012 and the Nordic Boats 42 Inferno 2009 are modified vee designs with composite 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 Nordic Boats 42 Inferno 2009 measures 42,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 21,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Nordic Boats 21 Cyclone SR 2012 at 21,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nordic Boats 42 Inferno 2009 tips the scales at 8 975 lbs — 8 972 lbs less than the Nordic Boats 21 Cyclone SR 2012 at 3 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nordic Boats 42 Inferno 2009 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Nordic Boats 21 Cyclone SR 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nordic Boats 42 Inferno 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Nordic Boats 42 Inferno 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nordic Boats 21 Cyclone SR 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.