When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Monterey 197FS 2013 and the Monterey 244FSX 2013 are deep 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 320 hp, the Monterey 244FSX 2013 has a 170-hp advantage over the Monterey 197FS 2013'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 Monterey 244FSX 2013 carries 62 gallons versus 36 gallons in the Monterey 197FS 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 1 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.