When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the South Bay 522FCR TT 2013 and the South Bay 525CR 2009 are pontoon designs with aluminum 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 — South Bay 522FCR TT 2013 at 24,0 ft versus South Bay 525CR 2009 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the South Bay 522FCR TT 2013 tips the scales at 295 lbs — 273 lbs more than the South Bay 525CR 2009 at 22 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the South Bay 522FCR TT 2013 has a 210-hp advantage over the South Bay 525CR 2009's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The South Bay 525CR 2009 is rated for 16 passengers, while the South Bay 522FCR TT 2013 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the South Bay 525CR 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the South Bay 525CR 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The South Bay 522FCR TT 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.