When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Kayot S260 2005 and the Kayot V220i 2008 are modified vee designs with composite 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 — Kayot S260 2005 at 25,0 ft versus Kayot V220i 2008 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kayot V220i 2008 tips the scales at 406 lbs — 352 lbs less than the Kayot S260 2005 at 54 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 320 hp for the Kayot S260 2005 and 320 hp for the Kayot V220i 2008. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kayot S260 2005 carries 94 gallons versus 45 gallons in the Kayot V220i 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Kayot S260 2005 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Kayot V220i 2008 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Kayot S260 2005 could be the deciding factor.