When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stanley Boats 24 Raised Deck 2011 and the Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012 are deep vee 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Stanley Boats 24 Raised Deck 2011 measures 24,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012 at 19,3 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012 tips the scales at 1 725 lbs — 1 490 lbs less than the Stanley Boats 24 Raised Deck 2011 at 235 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 200 hp, the Stanley Boats 24 Raised Deck 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012's 150-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 Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Stanley Boats 24 Raised Deck 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Stanley Boats Islander 19 ft. 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 19,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stanley Boats 24 Raised Deck 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.