When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Boston Whaler 285 Conquest Pilothouse 2012 and the Boston Whaler 320 Outrage 2013 are deep vee designs with fiberglass 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 Boston Whaler 320 Outrage 2013 measures 32,2 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 285 Conquest Pilothouse 2012 at 27,8 feet (2012). At 73 lbs and 85 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Boston Whaler 320 Outrage 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 285 Conquest Pilothouse 2012's 500-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 2 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Boston Whaler 320 Outrage 2013 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 285 Conquest Pilothouse 2012 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 320 Outrage 2013 could be the deciding factor.