When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stingray 204LR 2013 and the Stingray 214LR 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 — Stingray 204LR 2013 at 20,4 ft versus Stingray 214LR 2013 at 21,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stingray 214LR 2013 tips the scales at 3 114 lbs — 2 865 lbs less than the Stingray 204LR 2013 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Stingray 214LR 2013 has a 50-hp advantage over the Stingray 204LR 2013's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Stingray 214LR 2013 carries 46 gallons versus 34 gallons in the Stingray 204LR 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Stingray 214LR 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Stingray 204LR 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stingray 214LR 2013 could be the deciding factor.