Both the Scout 242 Abaco 2008 and the Scout 245 XSF 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 - Scout 242 Abaco 2008 at 24,0 ft versus Scout 245 XSF 2012 at 24,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Scout 242 Abaco 2008 tips the scales at 2 800 lbs - 200 lbs more than the Scout 245 XSF 2012 at 2 600 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 Scout 245 XSF 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Scout 242 Abaco 2008's 225-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 126 gal and 125 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Scout 245 XSF 2012 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Scout 242 Abaco 2008 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Scout 245 XSF 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Scout 245 XSF 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 24,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Scout 242 Abaco 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.