When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Livingston LV12 2012 and the Livingston Model 9 2011 are catamaran 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 — Livingston LV12 2012 at 11,9 ft versus Livingston Model 9 2011 at 9,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Livingston LV12 2012 tips the scales at 235 lbs — 219 lbs more than the Livingston Model 9 2011 at 16 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 — 15 hp for the Livingston LV12 2012 and 8 hp for the Livingston Model 9 2011. 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 Livingston LV12 2012 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Livingston Model 9 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Livingston LV12 2012 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Livingston Model 9 2011 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 16 lbs per hp for the Livingston LV12 2012. 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.