Both the Avalon 18 ft. Catalina 2012 and the Avalon 22 ft. A Fish 2013 are pontoon designs, both built in aluminium, so 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 22 ft. A Fish 2013 measures 22,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Avalon 18 ft. Catalina 2012 at 18,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon 22 ft. A Fish 2013 tips the scales at 2 000 lbs - 400 lbs less than the Avalon 18 ft. Catalina 2012 at 1 600 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. Catalina 2012 and 90 hp for the Avalon 22 ft. A Fish 2013. 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 22 ft. A Fish 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Avalon 18 ft. Catalina 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 22 ft. A Fish 2013 could be the deciding factor.

One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 2 aluminum tubes at 23" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched - the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.