When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Pursuit C 310 2009 and the Pursuit S 310 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 — Pursuit C 310 2009 at 31,2 ft versus Pursuit S 310 2011 at 31,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Pursuit S 310 2011 tips the scales at 8 873 lbs — 8 787 lbs less than the Pursuit C 310 2009 at 86 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 600 hp, the Pursuit S 310 2011 has a 100-hp advantage over the Pursuit C 310 2009's 500-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 9 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.