The Advantage 22 Sport Cat 2008 vs Advantage 28 Party Cat XL 2009 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Advantage 28 Party Cat XL 2009 measures 28,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Advantage 22 Sport Cat 2008 at 22,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Advantage 28 Party Cat XL 2009 tips the scales at 435 lbs — 407 lbs less than the Advantage 22 Sport Cat 2008 at 28 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 Advantage 28 Party Cat XL 2009 is rated for 18 passengers, while the Advantage 22 Sport Cat 2008 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Advantage 28 Party Cat XL 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Advantage 28 Party Cat XL 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Advantage 22 Sport Cat 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.