When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 and the Misty Harbor 2585GM 2009 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Misty Harbor 2585GM 2009 measures 25,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 at 16,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Misty Harbor 2585GM 2009 tips the scales at 232 lbs — 153 lbs less 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 25-hp advantage over the Misty Harbor 2585GM 2009's 15-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 2585GM 2009 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Misty Harbor 2585GM 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Misty Harbor 2585GM 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Misty Harbor 1680RE 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.