When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Nautica RIB 19 Deluxe 2011 and the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran 2011 are inflatable rigid 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Nautica RIB 19 Deluxe 2011 at 19,0 ft versus Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran 2011 at 19,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautica RIB 19 Deluxe 2011 tips the scales at 865 lbs — 760 lbs more than the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran 2011 at 105 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 — 115 hp for the Nautica RIB 19 Deluxe 2011 and 115 hp for the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran 2011. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Nautica RIB 19 Deluxe 2011 carries 65 gallons versus 48 gallons in the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 16 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.