When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis Angler Series 2011 and the Manitou Pontoons 22 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 Oasis Angler Series 2011 at 20,8 ft versus Manitou Pontoons 22 X-plode Cruise 2008 at 21,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Manitou Pontoons 22 X-plode Cruise 2008 tips the scales at 2 405 lbs — 2 163 lbs less than the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis Angler Series 2011 at 242 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 225 hp, the Manitou Pontoons 22 X-plode Cruise 2008 has a 50-hp advantage over the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis Angler Series 2011'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 22 X-plode Cruise 2008 carries 55 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis Angler 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 20 Oasis Angler Series 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Manitou Pontoons 22 X-plode Cruise 2008 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 Oasis Angler Series 2011 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 Oasis Angler Series 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 20,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Manitou Pontoons 22 X-plode Cruise 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.