The Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 vs Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 measures 22,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 at 18,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 tips the scales at 975 lbs — 954 lbs more than the Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 at 21 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 75 hp, the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 has a 73-hp advantage over the Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006's 2-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Both are inflatable designs, which means they pack down for compact storage, can be carried in a bag, and are dramatically lighter than equivalent rigid hulls. The trade-off is setup time and the need to monitor tube pressure regularly. Tube diameter differs: 23 in on the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 vs 23 in. 24 in. crossmembers on center on the Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 — larger tubes generally mean more buoyancy and a drier, more stable ride.
Bottom line: Choose the Leisure Pontoons 1823 Fish 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Leisure Pontoons 2223 Navigator 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.