The RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 vs RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 measures 24,4 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 10,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 at 14,1 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 tips the scales at 2 150 lbs — 2 035 lbs less than the RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 at 115 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 RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 is rated for 7 passengers, while the RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 displaces 2 150 lbs — a 2 035-lb difference over the RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 at 115 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
The RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 is rigged as a Sloop while the RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 carries fractional_rig_sloop rigging — a meaningful difference in sail handling complexity, upwind performance, and the size of crew you'll need to work the boat comfortably.
Both the RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 and RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 are listed as trailerable, which opens up the freedom to explore different sailing grounds without paying for a permanent berth.
Bottom line: The RS Sailing RS Elite Elite 2004 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 2 150 lbs displacement and 24 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The RS Sailing RS 100 10.2 2010 at 115 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option and is trailerable — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.