Both the Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 and the Avalon Windjammer 18 ft. 2010 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 at 20,0 ft versus Avalon Windjammer 18 ft. 2010 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 tips the scales at 1 800 lbs - 200 lbs more than the Avalon Windjammer 18 ft. 2010 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 has a 40-hp advantage over the Avalon Windjammer 18 ft. 2010's 75-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 carries 36 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Avalon Windjammer 18 ft. 2010. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Avalon Windjammer 18 ft. 2010 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon 20 ft. Paradise 2011 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.