When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Avon Adventure Series 2009 and the Avon SE 400 dl 2009 are inflatable rigid designs with inflatable 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 — Avon Adventure Series 2009 at 13,4 ft versus Avon SE 400 dl 2009 at 13,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avon SE 400 dl 2009 tips the scales at 641 lbs — 202 lbs less than the Avon Adventure Series 2009 at 439 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 — 50 hp for the Avon Adventure Series 2009 and 50 hp for the Avon SE 400 dl 2009. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Avon Adventure Series 2009 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Avon SE 400 dl 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avon Adventure Series 2009 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Avon Adventure Series 2009 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Avon SE 400 dl 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.

Top speed is rated at 44 mph for the Avon SE 400 dl 2009 and 40 mph for the Avon Adventure Series 2009.