Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 or the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012?

The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 is rated to a maximum of 40 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 tops out at 4 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 78" for the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 and Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 and the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 are built by Weld-Craft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012

Weld-Craft

Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008

2008

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Weld-Craft

Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a flat Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 against a modified vee Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 40 hp, the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 has a 36-hp advantage over the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012's 4-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeWeld-Craft

MakeWeldcraft Marine

ModelRL 56 (18 ft.)

Model24 Select

Model Year2008

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam78 in

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches78

Beam - Inches102

Height - DetailSide: 22 in

Height - DetailSides: 34 in

Height - Meters0.56

Height - Meters0.86

Height - Inches22

Height - Inches34

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet24

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail24 ft

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters7.32

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches288

Deadrisenot available

DeadriseTransom: 12°

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail3,800 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg1723.65

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.38

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail102 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typeFlat

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thicknessBottom: 0.19 in. Sides: 0.125 in. Transom: 0.19 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeNone

Drive typeJet Drive

Engine max40 hp (manual)

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMarine Power

Engine modelnot available

Engine model6.0 l Multi Port Fuel Injected MEFI-5 V-8

Jet pumpnot available

Jet pumpHamilton 212 Turbo

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail93 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters352.04

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal93

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower4

Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 or the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012?

The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 is rated to a maximum of 40 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 tops out at 4 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 78" for the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 and Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 and the Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 are built by Weld-Craft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2008 full specs ← Weldcraft Marine 24 Select 2012 full specs