Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 against a deep vee Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 at 23,0 ft versus Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 at 24,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 tips the scales at 4 244 lbs — 3 767 lbs more than the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 at 477 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 300 hp for the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 and 300 hp for the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 could be the deciding factor.