When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Ocean Yachts 42 SuperSport 2009 and the Ocean Yachts 73 SuperSport 2010 are deep vee designs with fiberglass 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 Ocean Yachts 73 SuperSport 2010 measures 72,0 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 30,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Ocean Yachts 42 SuperSport 2009 at 42,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Ocean Yachts 73 SuperSport 2010 tips the scales at 129 223 lbs — 95 072 lbs less than the Ocean Yachts 42 SuperSport 2009 at 34 151 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 Ocean Yachts 73 SuperSport 2010 is rated for 22 passengers, while the Ocean Yachts 42 SuperSport 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Ocean Yachts 73 SuperSport 2010 could be the deciding factor.