When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Avalon 20 ft. A Fish - Bow Fish RE 2012 and the Avalon Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 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 Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 measures 26,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 24,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Avalon 20 ft. A Fish - Bow Fish RE 2012 at 2,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon 20 ft. A Fish - Bow Fish RE 2012 tips the scales at 175 lbs — 151 lbs more than the Avalon Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 at 24 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Avalon Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 has a 60-hp advantage over the Avalon 20 ft. A Fish - Bow Fish RE 2012's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Avalon Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Avalon 20 ft. A Fish - Bow Fish RE 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Avalon Windjammer 26 ft. 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon 20 ft. A Fish - Bow Fish RE 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.