When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Charger 396 2012 and the Charger RG Series 2012 are modified vee designs with composite 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 — Charger 396 2012 at 19,8 ft versus Charger RG Series 2012 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Charger RG Series 2012 tips the scales at 235 lbs — 219 lbs less than the Charger 396 2012 at 16 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 — 225 hp for the Charger 396 2012 and 225 hp for the Charger RG Series 2012. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Charger 396 2012 carries 44 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Charger RG Series 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Charger RG Series 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Charger 396 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Charger RG Series 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Charger RG Series 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Charger 396 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.