The Sweetwater 2423 EL 2005 vs Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Sweetwater 2423 EL 2005 at 24,0 ft versus Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013 at 25,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013 tips the scales at 3 039 lbs — 1 068 lbs less than the Sweetwater 2423 EL 2005 at 1 971 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 — 135 hp for the Sweetwater 2423 EL 2005 and 150 hp for the Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 21 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Sweetwater 2423 EL 2005 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sweetwater SW 240-4 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 25,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sweetwater 2423 EL 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.