When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Seaway Boats 21 Seafarer 2012 and the Seaway Boats 24 Coastal Hardtop 2011 are deep vee designs with composite 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 21 Seafarer 2012 carries a rated maximum of 90 hp. Engine data for the Seaway Boats 24 Coastal Hardtop 2011 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Seaway Boats 24 Coastal Hardtop 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Seaway Boats 21 Seafarer 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Seaway Boats 24 Coastal Hardtop 2011 could be the deciding factor.