The Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 is a modified-V design and the Stabicraft 389 Frontier 2011 is a pontoon design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 measures 28,8 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 14,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Stabicraft 389 Frontier 2011 at 13,9 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 tips the scales at 7 694 lbs - 6 812 lbs more than the Stabicraft 389 Frontier 2011 at 882 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 400 hp, the Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 has a 360-hp advantage over the Stabicraft 389 Frontier 2011's 40-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 Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Stabicraft 389 Frontier 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Stabicraft 2880 Weekender 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 28,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stabicraft 389 Frontier 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.