When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crest 20 2009 and the Crest Pro R LE 22 2008 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Crest Pro R LE 22 2008 measures 22,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 20,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Crest 20 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). At 2 515 lbs and 2 467 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Crest 20 2009 and 115 hp for the Crest Pro R LE 22 2008. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crest 20 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Crest Pro R LE 22 2008 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crest 20 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crest 20 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crest Pro R LE 22 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.