305 Express vs 300 Marlin

cmware

cmware

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2022
Messages
14
Reaction score
4
Points
3
Age
44
Model
Express 265
Hey there. Currently have a 265 Express and looking at a 300 Marlin or 305 Express. Have a 2 year old now and married so looking for the aft cab and cabin space. Fish quite often 12 months a year and then day trips and destination trips in the summers. What's your take on the two models for those that have them, pros and cons. Thank you.
 
cmware said:
Hey there. Currently have a 265 Express and looking at a 300 Marlin or 305 Express. Have a 2 year old now and married so looking for the aft cab and cabin space. Fish quite often 12 months a year and then day trips and destination trips in the summers. What's your take on the two models for those that have them, pros and cons. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Same topic discussed extensively on this forum on 12/29/25.
 
I replied to your same question in the above mentioned thread.

This is season 10 for my 305. I had upgraded from a 265. the 305 pretty much does everything better then the 265 except for fuel efficiency and tank size. Where you have to slow down with the 265, you don't have to with the 305. I use the boat as a primary fishing boat but it also kind of gets treated like a beach house during the summer. We normally take it on a few weekend trips during the summer. Its fine for 2 people to stay on for a few days. My wife and I sleep in the main bunk and use the aft cabin for storage, but I think the aft cabin would be fine for a small child. On fishing trips someone usually sleeps in each bunk. The main problem we have is storage space, the cabin will fill up pretty fast. Let me know if you have specific questions or PM me with them.

There are a lot of comparison of these two boats on this forum. Honestly you cannot go wrong with either model. The 30ft hull is a good one.
 
Thank you, I finally found some great info here just had to play with the search terms a bit more. Appreciate the responses.
 
Both of these 30 footers are excellent boats. Ten years ago, I did a 2X upgrade from a 265 to a 330 with zero regrets. For me, I personally LOVE the center helm. If that's you then you might consider the 330 as it will be the one time upgrade for your growing family. I know it's more money and all but it is genuinely two sizes bigger than the 265.

Too bad GW discontinued the 265 and the 305. Same is true for the center helm 330. Now all that GW offers are non-fishing boats in my opinion. But the earlier models are still out there.
I like to fish 95% of the time with my boat and the center helm layout is excellent for that. Can see my Furuno displays real well from anywhere in the cockpit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.