When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Manitou Pontoons 22 ft. Encore SHP 2010 and the Manitou Pontoons 23 Legacy SHP 2013 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 22 ft. Encore SHP 2010 at 22,8 ft versus Manitou Pontoons 23 Legacy SHP 2013 at 24,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Manitou Pontoons 23 Legacy SHP 2013 tips the scales at 3 125 lbs — 2 864 lbs less than the Manitou Pontoons 22 ft. Encore SHP 2010 at 261 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 250 hp for the Manitou Pontoons 22 ft. Encore SHP 2010 and 250 hp for the Manitou Pontoons 23 Legacy 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 11 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.

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.