When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 Aurora VP 2012 and the Manitou Pontoons 27 SES VP 2013 are pontoon designs with aluminum 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Manitou Pontoons 27 SES VP 2013 measures 28,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 7,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Manitou Pontoons 20 Aurora VP 2012 at 20,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Manitou Pontoons 27 SES VP 2013 tips the scales at 321 lbs — 126 lbs less than the Manitou Pontoons 20 Aurora VP 2012 at 195 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 — 150 hp for the Manitou Pontoons 20 Aurora VP 2012 and 150 hp for the Manitou Pontoons 27 SES VP 2013. 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 Manitou Pontoons 27 SES VP 2013 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Manitou Pontoons 20 Aurora VP 2012 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Manitou Pontoons 27 SES VP 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Both are 3-tube and 3-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.