When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Avalon 22 ft. Tropic 2011 and the Avalon Somerset - 24 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Avalon 22 ft. Tropic 2011 at 22,0 ft versus Avalon Somerset - 24 Foot 2008 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon Somerset - 24 Foot 2008 tips the scales at 2 174 lbs — 2 146 lbs less than the Avalon 22 ft. Tropic 2011 at 28 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 225 hp, the Avalon 22 ft. Tropic 2011 has a 90-hp advantage over the Avalon Somerset - 24 Foot 2008's 135-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 Somerset - 24 Foot 2008 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Avalon 22 ft. Tropic 2011 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon Somerset - 24 Foot 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Avalon Somerset - 24 Foot 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon 22 ft. Tropic 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.