When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Cobalt Boats 220WSS 2012 and the Cobalt Boats 222 Bowrider 2008 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Cobalt Boats 220WSS 2012 at 21,3 ft versus Cobalt Boats 222 Bowrider 2008 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Cobalt Boats 222 Bowrider 2008 tips the scales at 4 165 lbs — 3 780 lbs less than the Cobalt Boats 220WSS 2012 at 385 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 Cobalt Boats 220WSS 2012 carries a rated maximum of 320 hp. Engine data for the Cobalt Boats 222 Bowrider 2008 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 12 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.