Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 boat specs
Avalon
Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009
2009
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VS
Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 boat specs
Avalon
Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006
2006
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Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 vs Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 vs Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 at 2,0 ft versus Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 at 2,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 tips the scales at 175 lbs — 158 lbs more than the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 at 17 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 90 hp for the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 and 100 hp for the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 carries 36 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009. 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 Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 2 lbs per hp for the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.

Bottom line: Choose the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeAvalon
MakeAvalon
ModelBow Fish 20 ft
ModelParadise - 20 Foot
Model Year2009
Model Year2006
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 0 in
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,750 lbs
Weight - Detailw/ furniture: 1,700 lbs
Weight - kg793.79
Weight - kg771.11
Weight - lbs.175
Weight - lbs.17
Length - Feet2
Length - Feet2
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Meters6.1
Length overall - Meters6.1
Length overall - Inches24
Length overall - Inches24
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - DetailDeck: 8 ft. 6 in
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]20 ft
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialnot available
Hull typePontoon
Hull typenot available
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameter23 in
Tube diameter25 in
Number of tubes2
Number of tubesnot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail36 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85
Fuel tank capacity - Liters136.27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal24
Fuel tank capacity - Gal36
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max90 hp
Engine max100 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,865 lbs
Maximum capacity2,300 lbs
Maximum people9 / 1,250 lbs
Maximum people12

Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 vs Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 or the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006?
The Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 is the longer of the two at 2,0 feet overall. The Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 or the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006?
For trailering, the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 175 lbs for the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 is rated to a maximum of 100 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 is certified for 12. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?
The Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 0 lbs per hp compared to 2 lbs per hp for the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 or the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006?
The Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 has the bigger tank at 36 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009. That 12-gallon difference translates to roughly 36–60 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 and Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Avalon Bow Fish 20 ft. 2009 and the Avalon Paradise - 20 Foot 2006 are built by Avalon. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.