Both the Misty Harbor 2085CF 2012 and the Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 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 2085CF 2012 at 20,0 ft versus Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 tips the scales at 2 000 lbs - 500 lbs less than the Misty Harbor 2085CF 2012 at 1 500 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 135 hp, the Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 has a 45-hp advantage over the Misty Harbor 2085CF 2012's 90-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 26 gal and 26 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Misty Harbor 2085CF 2012 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Misty Harbor 2285DR 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 14 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Misty Harbor 2085CF 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.