When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Navigator Yachts Navigator 4800 2011 and the Navigator Yachts Navigator 5100 2011 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Navigator Yachts Navigator 4800 2011 at 49,2 ft versus Navigator Yachts Navigator 5100 2011 at 51,7 ft. At 44 lbs and 5 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 500 hp, the Navigator Yachts Navigator 5100 2011 has a 130-hp advantage over the Navigator Yachts Navigator 4800 2011's 370-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 6 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Navigator Yachts Navigator 5100 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Navigator Yachts Navigator 4800 2011 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Navigator Yachts Navigator 5100 2011 could be the deciding factor.