When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Silverton 36 Convertible 2012 and the Silverton 38 Convertible 2010 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 2012 at 37,6 ft versus Silverton 38 Convertible 2010 at 40,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Silverton 38 Convertible 2010 tips the scales at 2 645 lbs — 790 lbs less than the Silverton 36 Convertible 2012 at 1 855 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 Silverton 38 Convertible 2010 tops out at 440 hp. Engine specs for the Silverton 36 Convertible 2012 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Silverton 36 Convertible 2012 carries 286 gallons versus 36 gallons in the Silverton 38 Convertible 2010. 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 Silverton 38 Convertible 2010 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Silverton 36 Convertible 2012 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 Convertible 2010 could be the deciding factor.