When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Silverton 36 Convertible 2011 and the Silverton 38 Sport Bridge 2012 are semi displacement 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 — Silverton 36 Convertible 2011 at 37,6 ft versus Silverton 38 Sport Bridge 2012 at 39,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Silverton 36 Convertible 2011 tips the scales at 1 855 lbs — 1 586 lbs more than the Silverton 38 Sport Bridge 2012 at 269 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Silverton 38 Sport Bridge 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Silverton 36 Convertible 2011 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Silverton 38 Sport Bridge 2012 could be the deciding factor.