When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Misty Harbor 1460FS 2012 and the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 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 — Misty Harbor 1460FS 2012 at 14,0 ft versus Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Misty Harbor 1460FS 2012 tips the scales at 775 lbs — 696 lbs more than the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 at 79 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 40 hp, the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 has a 37-hp advantage over the Misty Harbor 1460FS 2012's 3-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 Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Misty Harbor 1460FS 2012 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 258 lbs per hp for the Misty Harbor 1460FS 2012. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.