When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran IO 2011 and the Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 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 20 Catamaran IO 2011 at 19,5 ft versus Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 2011 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 2011 tips the scales at 217 lbs — 112 lbs less than the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran IO 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 240 hp, the Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 2011 has a 125-hp advantage over the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran IO 2011's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 2011 carries 105 gallons versus 48 gallons in the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran IO 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 2011 is rated for 18 passengers, while the Nautica RIB 20 Catamaran IO 2011 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nautica RIB 22 Jet IO 2011 could be the deciding factor.