When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stingray 204LR Sport Deck 2012 and the Stingray 220CS 2007 are modified 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 — Stingray 204LR Sport Deck 2012 at 20,4 ft versus Stingray 220CS 2007 at 21,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stingray 220CS 2007 tips the scales at 3 143 lbs — 2 894 lbs less than the Stingray 204LR Sport Deck 2012 at 249 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 Stingray 204LR Sport Deck 2012 carries a rated maximum of 150 hp. Engine data for the Stingray 220CS 2007 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 35 gal and 38 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Stingray 204LR Sport Deck 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Stingray 220CS 2007 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stingray 204LR Sport Deck 2012 could be the deciding factor.