Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 boat specs
Sessa Marine
Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012
2012
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VS
Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 boat specs
Sessa Marine
Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012
2012
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Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 vs Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 against a modified vee Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 measures 38,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 9,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 at 28,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 tips the scales at 1 587 lbs — 1 102 lbs more than the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 at 485 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 520 hp, the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 has a 200-hp advantage over the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012's 320-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 carries 132 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 38,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSessa Marine
MakeSessa Marine
ModelDorado 36
ModelKey Largo 27 Inboard
Model Year2012
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam11 ft. 6 in. (3.5 m)
Beam8 ft. 7 in. (2.64 m)
Beam - Meters3.51
Beam - Meters2.62
Beam - Inches138
Beam - Inches103
Weight - Detail15,870 lbs. (7,200 kg)
Weight - Detail4,850 lbs. (2,200 kg)
Weight - kg7198.51
Weight - kg2199.92
Weight - lbs.1587
Weight - lbs.485
Length - Feet38.08
Length - Feet28.17
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 1 in. (11.6 m)
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 2 in. (8.58 m)
Length overall - Meters11.61
Length overall - Meters8.59
Length overall - Inches457
Length overall - Inches338
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine model(2) Yanmar 6BY 26
Engine modelGXI 5.7
Fuel tank capacity - Detail(2) 90 gal. (340 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail132 gal. (500 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69
Fuel tank capacity - Liters499.67
Fuel tank capacity - Gal9
Fuel tank capacity - Gal132
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Drive typeInboard
Horsepower520 hp (382 kW)
Horsepower320 hp (240 kW)
Performance
Cruising speed28.8 mph (25 kn)
Cruising speednot available
Operational Info
Head1
Head1
Water capacity68.7 gal. (260 l)
Water capacity11.9 gal. (45 l)
Water heater capacity5.3 gal. (20 l)
Water heater capacitynot available
Maximum people12
Maximum people8
Holding tank capacity - Detail25 gal. (95 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters94.64
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal25
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 vs Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 or the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012?
The Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 is the longer of the two at 38,1 feet overall. The Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 comes in at 28,2 feet, making it roughly 9,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 or the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012?
For trailering, the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 has the edge at 485 lbs dry weight versus 1 587 lbs for the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 is rated to a maximum of 520 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 tops out at 320 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 measures 138" wide, compared to 103" for the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 or the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012?
The Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 has the bigger tank at 132 gallons, versus 9 gallons on the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012. That 123-gallon difference translates to roughly 369–615 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 and Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2012 and the Sessa Marine Key Largo 27 Inboard 2012 are built by Sessa Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.