When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the South Bay 625CR TT 2009 and the South Bay 724SL TT 2013 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — 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 — South Bay 625CR TT 2009 at 27,0 ft versus South Bay 724SL TT 2013 at 25,6 ft. At 257 lbs and 283 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the South Bay 724SL TT 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the South Bay 625CR TT 2009's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The South Bay 625CR TT 2009 is rated for 18 passengers, while the South Bay 724SL TT 2013 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the South Bay 625CR TT 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the South Bay 625CR TT 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 27,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The South Bay 724SL TT 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 15 that costs less to run day-to-day.