When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore Series 2011 and the Manitou Pontoons 22 Oasis 2009 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore Series 2011 at 20,9 ft versus Manitou Pontoons 22 Oasis 2009 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore Series 2011 tips the scales at 1 855 lbs — 1 594 lbs more than the Manitou Pontoons 22 Oasis 2009 at 261 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 Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore Series 2011 carries a rated maximum of 90 hp. Engine data for the Manitou Pontoons 22 Oasis 2009 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 34 gal and 34 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Manitou Pontoons 22 Oasis 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore Series 2011 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 22 Oasis 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Both are 2-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.