When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Yamaha 242 Limited S 2013 and the Yamaha AR240 High Output 2012 are deep 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 — Yamaha 242 Limited S 2013 at 23,5 ft versus Yamaha AR240 High Output 2012 at 23,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Yamaha 242 Limited S 2013 tips the scales at 3 519 lbs — 150 lbs more than the Yamaha AR240 High Output 2012 at 3 369 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 are rated for 11 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.