When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Silverton 38 Convertible 2011 and the Silverton 50 Convertible 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Silverton 50 Convertible 2012 measures 51,6 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 11,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Silverton 38 Convertible 2011 at 40,1 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Silverton 38 Convertible 2011 tips the scales at 2 645 lbs — 2 169 lbs more than the Silverton 50 Convertible 2012 at 476 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 50 Convertible 2012 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Silverton 38 Convertible 2011 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Silverton 50 Convertible 2012 could be the deciding factor.