The Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016 vs Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 measures 104,0 feet overall (2016), giving it roughly 13,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016 at 90,2 feet (2016). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016 tips the scales at 102 515 lbs - 102 373 lbs more than the Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 at 142 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 305 hp, the Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 has a 115-hp advantage over the Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016's 190-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 Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 is rated for 31 passengers, while the Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016 caps at 27. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016 displaces 102 515 lbs - a 102 373-lb difference over the Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 at 142 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth - 12,4 ft and 12,9 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
For auxiliary power the Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 carries a 305-hp engine against 190 hp on the Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
Bottom line: The Southern Wind SW-RP90 Allsmoke 2016 is the offshore and bluewater choice - at 102 515 lbs displacement and 90 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Southern Wind SW102 Crossbow 2016 at 142 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option - easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.