When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012 and the May-Craft 2300 Pilot 2013 are modified vee 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012 at 23,0 ft versus May-Craft 2300 Pilot 2013 at 22,5 ft. At 23 lbs and 28 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 225 hp, the May-Craft 2300 Pilot 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the May-Craft 2300 Pilot 2013 carries 88 gallons versus 41 gallons in the May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012. 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 May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the May-Craft 2300 Pilot 2013 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the May-Craft 2286 Skiff 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The May-Craft 2300 Pilot 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.