Both the Misty Harbor 1680FC 2013 and the Misty Harbor Explorer 1460FS 2010 are pontoon designs, both built in aluminium, so 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 1680FC 2013 at 16,0 ft versus Misty Harbor Explorer 1460FS 2010 at 14,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Misty Harbor 1680FC 2013 tips the scales at 1 200 lbs - 675 lbs more than the Misty Harbor Explorer 1460FS 2010 at 525 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 - 40 hp for the Misty Harbor 1680FC 2013 and 30 hp for the Misty Harbor Explorer 1460FS 2010. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Misty Harbor 1680FC 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Misty Harbor Explorer 1460FS 2010 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 1680FC 2013 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Misty Harbor Explorer 1460FS 2010 comes in at 18 lbs per hp versus 30 lbs per hp for the Misty Harbor 1680FC 2013. 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.

Both are 2-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.