When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Supra Launch 242 2012 and the Supra SA550 2013 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 — Supra Launch 242 2012 at 24,0 ft versus Supra SA550 2013 at 22,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Supra Launch 242 2012 tips the scales at 445 lbs — 402 lbs more than the Supra SA550 2013 at 43 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 550 hp, the Supra SA550 2013 has a 225-hp advantage over the Supra Launch 242 2012's 325-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Supra Launch 242 2012 carries 68 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Supra SA550 2013. 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 Supra Launch 242 2012 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Supra SA550 2013 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Supra Launch 242 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Supra Launch 242 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Supra SA550 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 13 that costs less to run day-to-day.