When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 and the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 measures 18,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 16,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008 tips the scales at 187 lbs — 171 lbs less than the Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 at 16 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 and 90 hp for the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 2 lbs per hp for the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Avalon CT Fish - 20 Foot 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon 18 ft. A Fish - Fish N Fun RE 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.