When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011 and the PlayCraft Ultra Deck Cruiser 22 I/O 2011 are planing hull 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 — PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011 at 24,0 ft versus PlayCraft Ultra Deck Cruiser 22 I/O 2011 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the PlayCraft Ultra Deck Cruiser 22 I/O 2011 tips the scales at 355 lbs — 331 lbs less than the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011 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 320 hp, the PlayCraft Ultra Deck Cruiser 22 I/O 2011 has a 95-hp advantage over the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 7 gal and 7 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the PlayCraft Ultra Deck Cruiser 22 I/O 2011 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck 24 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The PlayCraft Ultra Deck Cruiser 22 I/O 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.