When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Harris Flotebote Solstice 250 2012 and the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 are pontoon 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Harris Flotebote Solstice 250 2012 measures 26,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 8,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 at 18,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 tips the scales at 2 104 lbs — 1 781 lbs less than the Harris Flotebote Solstice 250 2012 at 323 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 Harris Flotebote Solstice 250 2012 carries a rated maximum of 2 hp. Engine data for the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Harris Flotebote Solstice 250 2012 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 could be the deciding factor.