When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Pro-Line 20 Bay 2011 and the Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 are modified 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 measures 35,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 15,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Pro-Line 20 Bay 2011 at 20,4 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Pro-Line 20 Bay 2011 tips the scales at 1 629 lbs — 1 517 lbs more than the Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 at 112 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 900 hp, the Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 has a 750-hp advantage over the Pro-Line 20 Bay 2011's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 carries 32 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Pro-Line 20 Bay 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 Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Pro-Line 20 Bay 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Pro-Line 35 Express 2011 could be the deciding factor.