The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 is a modified-V design and the Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 is a deep-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 measures 30,2 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 6,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 at 24,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 tips the scales at 6 635 lbs - 2 275 lbs less than the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 at 4 360 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 600 hp, the Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 has a 200-hp advantage over the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008's 400-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 carries 288 gallons versus 140 gallons in the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008. 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 Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Wellcraft 30 Scarab® Tournament 2013 could be the deciding factor.