Both the Harris Flotebote Solstice 270 2012 and the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 are pontoon designs, the first built in fibreglass and the second in aluminium, so 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 270 2012 measures 28,2 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 10,2 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 Solstice 270 2012 tips the scales at 4 081 lbs - 1 977 lbs more than the Harris Flotebote Sunliner 180 2011 at 2 104 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 270 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 - 50 gal and 50 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 270 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.