When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 and the Manitou Pontoons 27 Legacy Series 2011 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 27 Legacy Series 2011 measures 28,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 26,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Manitou Pontoons 27 Legacy Series 2011 tips the scales at 4 825 lbs — 4 577 lbs less than the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 at 248 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Manitou Pontoons 27 Legacy Series 2011 has a 125-hp advantage over the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009's 175-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 carries 57 gallons versus 34 gallons in the Manitou Pontoons 27 Legacy Series 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Manitou Pontoons 27 Legacy Series 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 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 Legacy Series 2011 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Manitou Pontoons 27 Legacy Series 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 28,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Manitou Pontoons 20 Encore 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.