When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Berkshire Pontoons 261 E Premium 2012 and the Berkshire Pontoons STS 253SLX 2013 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 — Berkshire Pontoons 261 E Premium 2012 at 26,4 ft versus Berkshire Pontoons STS 253SLX 2013 at 25,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Berkshire Pontoons 261 E Premium 2012 tips the scales at 3 395 lbs — 3 150 lbs more than the Berkshire Pontoons STS 253SLX 2013 at 245 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 — 150 hp for the Berkshire Pontoons 261 E Premium 2012 and 150 hp for the Berkshire Pontoons STS 253SLX 2013. 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.

Both boats are rated for 13 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 2 aluminum tubes at 25" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched — the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.