When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Avalon Catalina - 20 Foot 2008 and the Avalon Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 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 Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 measures 24,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 22,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Avalon Catalina - 20 Foot 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon Catalina - 20 Foot 2008 tips the scales at 187 lbs — 184 lbs more than the Avalon Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 at 3 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 250 hp, the Avalon Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 has a 160-hp advantage over the Avalon Catalina - 20 Foot 2008's 90-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 Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Avalon Catalina - 20 Foot 2008 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Avalon Windjammer Rear Loungers 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon Catalina - 20 Foot 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.