When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis 2009 and the Manitou Pontoons 22 Aurora 2009 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 22 Aurora 2009 measures 22,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 20,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). At 248 lbs and 194 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis 2009 has a 105-hp advantage over the Manitou Pontoons 22 Aurora 2009's 70-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Manitou Pontoons 22 Aurora 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis 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 22 Aurora 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Both are 3-tube and 2-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 22 Aurora 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Manitou Pontoons 20 Oasis 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.