When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crest III Classic 20 2007 and the Crest III XRS RE 22 2007 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 III XRS RE 22 2007 measures 22,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 20,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Crest III Classic 20 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crest III XRS RE 22 2007 tips the scales at 2 656 lbs — 141 lbs less than the Crest III Classic 20 2007 at 2 515 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 — 115 hp for the Crest III Classic 20 2007 and 135 hp for the Crest III XRS RE 22 2007. 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 III XRS RE 22 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Crest III Classic 20 2007 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crest III XRS RE 22 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crest III XRS RE 22 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crest III Classic 20 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 13 that costs less to run day-to-day.