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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Boats for Large Groups in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Bennington 30 QX Swingback
Direct answer

The Bennington 30 QX Swingback is the best boat for large groups: the QX line carries 8-20 people and the 30 QX is 30 ft 11 in. The Harris Grand Mariner 270 is #2 at 12-18 persons from $128,988, and the Grand Mariner 250 is #3 at 10-16 persons.

At a glance

#PickCapacityBest for
1Bennington 30 QX Swingback8-20 people (QX line)The biggest crowd on one deck
2Harris Grand Mariner 27012-18 personsA big pontoon for 12 to 18 guests
3Harris Grand Mariner 25010-16 personsLarge groups on a shorter hull
4Sea Ray SDX 25014 peopleA sporty bowrider that carries 14
5Hurricane SunDeck 2486 OB14 passengersAn outboard deck boat for 14
6Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX12 personsA party pontoon for 12
7Hurricane SunDeck 2400 OB12 passengersA powerful deck boat for 12
8Hurricane SunDeck 235 OB12 passengersA shorter deck boat for 12
9Cobalt CS2212 personsA premium bowrider for 12
10Sea Ray SPX 21012 peopleThe shortest boat that still seats 12

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Bennington 30 QX Swingback
Best value
Harris Grand Mariner 270
Best sport boat
Sea Ray SDX 250
Best deck boat
Hurricane SunDeck 2486 OB
Best party barge
Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX

The ranking

1

Bennington 30 QX Swingback

Bennington 30 QX Swingback
Answrs VerdictThe biggest group boat.
Capacity: 8-20 people (QX line)Length: 30 ft 11 inMax horsepower: Up to 1,000 hp (QX line)Price: QX line starting at $188,136 US MSRP

The Bennington QX line is rated for 8-20 people and starts at $188,136 US MSRP. The 30 QX is 30 ft 11 in long.

Go ifThe biggest crowd on one deck
Skip ifYou want a boat under 27 ft
Why #1 over #2: Its 20-person ceiling tops the Grand Mariner 270’s 18.
2

Harris Grand Mariner 270

Harris Grand Mariner 270
Answrs VerdictThe best-priced big pontoon.
Capacity: 12-18 personsLength: 29 ftMax horsepower: 500 hpMax weight capacity: 3,243 lbsPrice: Starting at $128,988

The Harris Grand Mariner 270 is 29 ft, rated for 12-18 persons and 3,243 lbs, with up to 500 hp, starting at $128,988.

Go ifA big pontoon for 12 to 18 guests
Skip ifYou want the shorter Grand Mariner hull
Why #2 over #3: Its 18-person ceiling beats the Grand Mariner 250’s 16.
3

Harris Grand Mariner 250

Harris Grand Mariner 250
Answrs VerdictThe mid-size Grand Mariner.
Capacity: 10-16 personsLength: 27 ft 6 inMax horsepower: 500 hpMax weight capacity: 3,002 lbsPrice: Starting at $145,631

The Harris Grand Mariner 250 is 27 ft 6 in, rated for 10-16 persons and 3,002 lbs, with up to 500 hp, starting at $145,631.

Go ifLarge groups on a shorter hull
Skip ifYou need 18 seats
Why #3 over #4: Its 16-person ceiling tops the SDX 250’s 14.
4

Sea Ray SDX 250

Sea Ray SDX 250
Answrs VerdictThe sport boat for 14.
Capacity: 14 peopleLength: 25 ft 2 inFuel: 65 galPrice: Not published

The Sea Ray SDX 250 is 25 ft 2 in and rated for 14 people, with a 65-gallon fuel tank.

Go ifA sporty bowrider that carries 14
Skip ifYou want a flat pontoon deck
Why #4 over #5: Its 25 ft 2 in length is longer than the SunDeck 2486’s 24 ft at the same 14 capacity.
5

Hurricane SunDeck 2486 OB

Hurricane SunDeck 2486 OB
Answrs VerdictThe deck boat for 14.
Capacity: 14 passengersLength: 24 ftMax horsepower: 300 hpFuel: 66 galPrice: Not published

The Hurricane SunDeck 2486 OB is 24 ft, rated for 14 passengers, with up to 300 hp and 66 gallons of fuel.

Go ifAn outboard deck boat for 14
Skip ifYou want more than 300 hp
Why #5 over #6: Its 14-passenger rating tops the Party Barge 24 DLX’s 12.
6

Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX

Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX
Answrs VerdictThe party barge.
Capacity: 12 personsLength: 26 ft 2 inMax horsepower: 150 hpFuel: 32.1 galPrice: Not published

The Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX is 26 ft 2 in, rated for 12 persons, with a recommended maximum of 150 hp and 32.1 gallons of fuel.

Go ifA party pontoon for 12
Skip ifYou want more than 150 hp
Why #6 over #7: Its 26 ft 2 in length is longer than the SunDeck 2400’s 24 ft.
7

Hurricane SunDeck 2400 OB

Hurricane SunDeck 2400 OB
Answrs VerdictThe power deck boat.
Capacity: 12 passengersLength: 24 ftMax horsepower: 400 hpFuel: 66 galPrice: Not published

The Hurricane SunDeck 2400 OB is 24 ft, rated for 12 passengers, with up to 400 hp and 66 gallons of fuel.

Go ifA powerful deck boat for 12
Skip ifYou need more than 12 seats
Why #7 over #8: Its 400 hp tops the SunDeck 235’s 250 hp.
8

Hurricane SunDeck 235 OB

Hurricane SunDeck 235 OB
Answrs VerdictThe compact deck boat.
Capacity: 12 passengersLength: 23 ft 4 inMax horsepower: 250 hpFuel: 52 galPrice: Not published

The Hurricane SunDeck 235 OB is 23 ft 4 in, rated for 12 passengers, with up to 250 hp and 52 gallons of fuel.

Go ifA shorter deck boat for 12
Skip ifYou want more than 250 hp
Why #8 over #9: Its 23 ft 4 in length is longer than the CS22’s 22 ft 5 in.
9

Cobalt CS22

Cobalt CS22
Answrs VerdictThe premium bowrider.
Capacity: 12 personsLength: 22 ft 5 inFuel: 52 galPrice: Not published

The Cobalt CS22 is 22 ft 5 in with a 52-gallon fuel tank, and Cobalt lists its certified capacity as 12 persons.

Go ifA premium bowrider for 12
Skip ifYou need more than 12 seats
Why #9 over #10: Its 22 ft 5 in length is longer than the SPX 210’s 21 ft 8 in at the same 12 capacity.
10

Sea Ray SPX 210

Sea Ray SPX 210
Answrs VerdictThe compact crowd carrier.
Capacity: 12 peopleLength: 21 ft 8 inPrice: Not published

The Sea Ray SPX 210 is 21 ft 8 in and rated for 12 people.

Go ifThe shortest boat that still seats 12
Skip ifYou want a longer boat

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat on the maximum capacity its maker publishes, then on length overall. Where a maker publishes a range, we used the top of the range. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best boat for a large group?

The Bennington 30 QX Swingback: the QX line carries 8-20 people and the 30 QX is 30 ft 11 in long.

Which Harris boat carries the most people?

The Grand Mariner 270 is rated for 12-18 persons and starts at $128,988.

How many people fit on a Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX?

It is rated for up to 12 persons with a recommended maximum of 150 hp.

What is the shortest boat on this list that seats 12?

The Sea Ray SPX 210 is 21 ft 8 in long and is rated for 12 people.

Maximum published capacity at a glance

Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX12 people
Hurricane SunDeck 2400 OB12 people
Hurricane SunDeck 235 OB12 people
Cobalt CS2212 people
Sea Ray SPX 21012 people
Sea Ray SDX 25014 people
Hurricane SunDeck 2486 OB14 people
Harris Grand Mariner 25016 people
Harris Grand Mariner 27018 people
Bennington 30 QX Swingback20 people
Maximum published capacity, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.