When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 ft. Oasis VP 2010 and the Manitou Pontoons 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 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 ft. Oasis VP 2010 at 20,8 ft versus Manitou Pontoons 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 at 19,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Manitou Pontoons 20 ft. Oasis VP 2010 tips the scales at 2 135 lbs — 1 887 lbs more than the Manitou Pontoons 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 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 Manitou Pontoons 20 ft. Oasis VP 2010 carries a rated maximum of 150 hp. Engine data for the Manitou Pontoons 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Manitou Pontoons 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 carries 55 gallons versus 34 gallons in the Manitou Pontoons 20 ft. Oasis VP 2010. 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 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Manitou Pontoons 20 ft. Oasis VP 2010 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 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 could be the deciding factor.
One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 3 aluminum tubes at 23" 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Manitou Pontoons 20 X-plode Cruise 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Manitou Pontoons 20 ft. Oasis VP 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.