When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Reinell 185 LS 2008 and the Reinell 200 LSE 2012 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Reinell 185 LS 2008 at 18,0 ft versus Reinell 200 LSE 2012 at 19,6 ft. At 215 lbs and 285 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 320 hp, the Reinell 200 LSE 2012 has a 95-hp advantage over the Reinell 185 LS 2008's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Reinell 185 LS 2008 carries 25 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Reinell 200 LSE 2012. 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 Reinell 200 LSE 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Reinell 185 LS 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Reinell 200 LSE 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Reinell 200 LSE 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 19,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Reinell 185 LS 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.