When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the G3 Boats LX 20 F/C 2009 and the G3 Boats LX 22 F/C 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The G3 Boats LX 22 F/C 2012 measures 22,5 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 20,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the G3 Boats LX 20 F/C 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). At 2 lbs and 21 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 — 100 hp for the G3 Boats LX 20 F/C 2009 and 115 hp for the G3 Boats LX 22 F/C 2012. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The G3 Boats LX 22 F/C 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the G3 Boats LX 20 F/C 2009 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the G3 Boats LX 22 F/C 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the G3 Boats LX 22 F/C 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The G3 Boats LX 20 F/C 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.