When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the SouthWind 2400 SD 2009 and the SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 — SouthWind 2400 SD 2009 at 25,5 ft versus SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 tips the scales at 4 191 lbs — 469 lbs less than the SouthWind 2400 SD 2009 at 3 722 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 350 hp, the SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 has a 100-hp advantage over the SouthWind 2400 SD 2009's 250-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 77 gal and 77 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the SouthWind 2400 SD 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the SouthWind 2600 SD 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The SouthWind 2400 SD 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.