Both the SouthWind 201 FS 2012 and the SouthWind 2290 L 2009 are tri-hull designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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 - SouthWind 201 FS 2012 at 20,1 ft versus SouthWind 2290 L 2009 at 22,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the SouthWind 201 FS 2012 tips the scales at 4 400 lbs - 900 lbs more than the SouthWind 2290 L 2009 at 3 500 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 - 115 hp for the SouthWind 201 FS 2012 and 115 hp for the SouthWind 2290 L 2009. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the SouthWind 201 FS 2012 carries 50 gallons versus 35 gallons in the SouthWind 2290 L 2009. 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 SouthWind 2290 L 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the SouthWind 201 FS 2012 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the SouthWind 2290 L 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the SouthWind 2290 L 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 22,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The SouthWind 201 FS 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.