Both the Yellowfin 29 2011 and the Yellowfin 36 2012 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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 36 2012 measures 36,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Yellowfin 29 2011 at 30,9 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Yellowfin 36 2012 tips the scales at 9 500 lbs - 2 100 lbs less than the Yellowfin 29 2011 at 7 400 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 1 400 hp, the Yellowfin 36 2012 has a 700-hp advantage over the Yellowfin 29 2011's 700-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 36 2012 carries 510 gallons versus 250 gallons in the Yellowfin 29 2011. 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 36 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Yellowfin 29 2011 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Yellowfin 36 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Yellowfin 36 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 36,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Yellowfin 29 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.