The Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 vs Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 at 23,0 ft versus Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006 at 23,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006 tips the scales at 2 375 lbs — 2 353 lbs less than the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 at 22 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 — 2 hp for the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 and 2 hp for the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 1188 lbs per hp for the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006. 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.
The Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 is a rigid hull, which typically offers a more confident ride in chop and easier maintenance over the long term.
Bottom line: Choose the Leisure Pontoons 2423 Meridian 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Leisure Pontoons 2423 Fish & Cruise 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.