When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Southport 26 Center Console 2010 and the Southport 29 Tournament Edition 2013 are deep vee 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 — Southport 26 Center Console 2010 at 26,5 ft versus Southport 29 Tournament Edition 2013 at 28,5 ft. At 46 lbs and 58 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Southport 29 Tournament Edition 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Southport 26 Center Console 2010's 500-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Southport 29 Tournament Edition 2013 carries 232 gallons versus 204 gallons in the Southport 26 Center Console 2010. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 8 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.