Both the Avalon 22 ft. Windjammer RC 2011 and the Avalon Windjammer Sandbar 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Avalon Windjammer Sandbar 2010 measures 26,0 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Avalon 22 ft. Windjammer RC 2011 at 22,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon 22 ft. Windjammer RC 2011 tips the scales at 2 800 lbs - 325 lbs more than the Avalon Windjammer Sandbar 2010 at 2 475 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. Windjammer RC 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Avalon Windjammer Sandbar 2010's 175-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 Windjammer Sandbar 2010 carries 42 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Avalon 22 ft. Windjammer RC 2011. 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 Windjammer Sandbar 2010 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Avalon 22 ft. Windjammer RC 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 Windjammer Sandbar 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Both are 2-tube and 3-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity - more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.