When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Yamaha 242 Limited 2013 and the Yamaha SX190 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Yamaha 242 Limited 2013 measures 23,5 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Yamaha SX190 2012 at 19,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Yamaha 242 Limited 2013 tips the scales at 3 439 lbs — 1 274 lbs more than the Yamaha SX190 2012 at 2 165 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Yamaha 242 Limited 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Yamaha SX190 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Yamaha 242 Limited 2013 could be the deciding factor.