When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 and the Seaway Boats 27 Seafarer 2012 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?

The Seaway Boats 27 Seafarer 2012 tops out at 220 hp. Engine specs for the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Seaway Boats 27 Seafarer 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Seaway Boats 27 Seafarer 2012 could be the deciding factor.