Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2013 vs Sessa Marine Key Largo 30 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2013 against a modified vee Sessa Marine Key Largo 30 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 2013 measures 38,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 8,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sessa Marine Key Largo 30 2012 at 29,5 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sessa Marine Key Largo 30 2012 tips the scales at 6 613 lbs — 5 026 lbs less than the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2013 at 1 587 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 2013 has a 518-hp advantage over the Sessa Marine Key Largo 30 2012's 2-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 30 2012 carries 185 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2013. 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 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Sessa Marine Key Largo 30 2012 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sessa Marine Dorado 36 2013 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 30 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSessa Marine
MakeSessa Marine
ModelDorado 36
ModelKey Largo 3
Model Year2013
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam11 ft. 6 in. (3.5 m)
Beam9 ft. 8 in. (2.99 m)
Beam - Meters3.51
Beam - Meters2.95
Beam - Inches138
Beam - Inches116
Draft [max] - Detail2.8 ft. (0.85 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches33.6
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail15,870 lbs. (7,200 kg)
Weight - Detail6,613 lbs. (3,000 kg)
Weight - kg7198.51
Weight - kg2999.6
Weight - lbs.1587
Weight - lbs.6613
Length - Feet38.08
Length - Feet29.5
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 1 in. (11.6 m)
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 6 in. (9.01 m)
Length overall - Meters11.61
Length overall - Meters8.99
Length overall - Inches457
Length overall - Inches354
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine modelTwin Yanmar
Engine model(2) Yamaha F250 DETX
Fuel tank capacity - Detail(2) 90 gal. (340 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail185 gal. (700 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters340.69
Fuel tank capacity - Liters700.3
Fuel tank capacity - Gal9
Fuel tank capacity - Gal185
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Engine max520 hp (382 kW)
Engine max(2) Yamaha F300 DETX
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower(2) 250 hp (185 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed30 knot
Maximum speednot available
Cruising speednot available
Cruising speed40.2 mph (35 kn)
Operational Info
Sleeping capacity5
Sleeping capacitynot available
Water capacity68.7 gal. (260 l)
Water capacity26.4 gal. (100 l)
Water heater capacity5.3 gal. (20 l)
Water heater capacitynot available
Maximum people12
Maximum people1
Holding tank capacity - Detail25 gal. (95 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail14 gal. (54 l) optional
Holding tank capacity - Liters94.64
Holding tank capacity - Liters53
Holding tank capacity - Gal25
Holding tank capacity - Gal14
Options / Other
DesignerChristian Grande
Designernot available