When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Four Winns H180 OB 2013 and the Four Winns H180 SS 2012 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 — Four Winns H180 OB 2013 at 17,9 ft versus Four Winns H180 SS 2012 at 17,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Four Winns H180 OB 2013 tips the scales at 248 lbs — 224 lbs more than the Four Winns H180 SS 2012 at 24 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Four Winns H180 OB 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Four Winns H180 SS 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Four Winns H180 OB 2013 could be the deciding factor.