When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Aqua Patio AP 220 DC 2009 and the Aqua Patio AP 240 Aft Deck 2012 are pontoon designs with aluminum 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?

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 150 hp for the Aqua Patio AP 220 DC 2009 and 150 hp for the Aqua Patio AP 240 Aft Deck 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Aqua Patio AP 240 Aft Deck 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Aqua Patio AP 220 DC 2009 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Aqua Patio AP 240 Aft Deck 2012 could be the deciding factor.