Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 vs Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 against a pontoon Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 measures 18,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 16,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 tips the scales at 1 335 lbs — 1 311 lbs less than the Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 at 24 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 200 hp, the Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 has a 125-hp advantage over the Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Palm Beach Pontoons Fish Master 180 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Palm Beach Fishing 205 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakePalm Beach Fishing
MakePalm Beach Pontoons
Model205
ModelFish Master 18
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches96
Deadrise21℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.25
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches1
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail12 in
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.3
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches12
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail2,400 lbs
Weight - Detail1,160 lbs. 2 Tubes - 25 in.: 1,220 lbs. 3/4 Center Tube: 1,335 lbs
Weight - kg1088.62
Weight - kg605.55
Weight - lbs.24
Weight - lbs.1335
Height [transom]25 in
Height [transom]not available
Length - Feet2
Length - Feet18.25
Length - Inches5
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 5 in
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 3 in
Length overall - Meters6.22
Length overall - Meters5.56
Length overall - Inches245
Length overall - Inches219
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]18 ft
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail85 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters321.76
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal85
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max200 hp
Engine max75 hp 2 Tubes - 25 in.: 75 hp 3/4 Center Tube: 90 hp
Operational Info
Maximum people8
Maximum people9 2 Tubes - 25 in.: 10 3/4 Center Tube: 9
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum capacity1,310 lbs. 2 Tubes - 25 in.: 1,535 lbs. 3/4 Center Tube: 1,315 lbs
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter23 in
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes2