When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bryant 255 2011 and the Bryant 268 2012 are modified 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bryant 255 2011 at 25,4 ft versus Bryant 268 2012 at 26,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bryant 268 2012 tips the scales at 572 lbs — 126 lbs less than the Bryant 255 2011 at 446 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 430 hp, the Bryant 268 2012 has a 422-hp advantage over the Bryant 255 2011's 8-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bryant 255 2011 carries 64 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Bryant 268 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

The Bryant 255 2011 is rated for up to 13 people. Passenger data for the Bryant 268 2012 wasn't available.