When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sunsation 288 S Performance 2012 and the Sunsation 288 XRT 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 — Sunsation 288 S Performance 2012 at 28,7 ft versus Sunsation 288 XRT 2013 at 28,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sunsation 288 S Performance 2012 tips the scales at 425 lbs — 380 lbs more than the Sunsation 288 XRT 2013 at 45 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 Sunsation 288 S Performance 2012 carries a rated maximum of 320 hp. Engine data for the Sunsation 288 XRT 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 11 gal and 11 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

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.