When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 and the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis SHP 2013 are pontoon designs with fiberglass 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 20 Oasis SHP 2013 measures 20,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 18,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). At 248 lbs and 248 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 175 hp for the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 and 175 hp for the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis SHP 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.

Both boats are rated for 1 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 3 aluminum tubes at 2" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched — the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.