When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011 and the Yellowfin 29 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 Yellowfin 29 2012 measures 30,9 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011 at 24,8 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011 tips the scales at 305 lbs — 231 lbs more than the Yellowfin 29 2012 at 74 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 700 hp, the Yellowfin 29 2012 has a 350-hp advantage over the Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011 carries 75 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Yellowfin 29 2012. 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 Yellowfin 29 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Yellowfin 29 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Yellowfin 29 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 30,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Yellowfin 24 Bay 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.