When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Encore Boat Builders 240 Cruise 2012 and the Encore Boat Builders 243 Cruise 2012 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Encore Boat Builders 240 Cruise 2012 at 24,0 ft versus Encore Boat Builders 243 Cruise 2012 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Encore Boat Builders 240 Cruise 2012 tips the scales at 194 lbs — 175 lbs more than the Encore Boat Builders 243 Cruise 2012 at 19 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 250 hp, the Encore Boat Builders 243 Cruise 2012 has a 100-hp advantage over the Encore Boat Builders 240 Cruise 2012's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 36 gal and 36 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 16 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.

Both are 2-tube and 3-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.