When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Avalon 20 ft. GS 2013 and the Avalon 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 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 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 measures 26,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 24,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Avalon 20 ft. GS 2013 at 2,0 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 tips the scales at 2 475 lbs — 2 300 lbs less than the Avalon 20 ft. GS 2013 at 175 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 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the Avalon 20 ft. GS 2013's 75-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 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Avalon 20 ft. GS 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Both are 2-tube and 2-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.
Bottom line: Choose the Avalon 26 ft. Windjammer 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon 20 ft. GS 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.