Both the SouthWind 201 L 2011 and the SouthWind 229 FS 2012 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 L 2011 at 20,1 ft versus SouthWind 229 FS 2012 at 22,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the SouthWind 229 FS 2012 tips the scales at 4 700 lbs - 1 500 lbs less than the SouthWind 201 L 2011 at 3 200 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 200 hp, the SouthWind 201 L 2011 has a 85-hp advantage over the SouthWind 229 FS 2012's 115-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 50 gal and 50 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The SouthWind 229 FS 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the SouthWind 201 L 2011 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the SouthWind 229 FS 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the SouthWind 229 FS 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 12 passengers and at 22,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The SouthWind 201 L 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.