When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sunsation 288 XRT Open Bow Open Cockpit 2013 and the Sunsation 32 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 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 XRT Open Bow Open Cockpit 2013 at 28,7 ft versus Sunsation 32 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 at 31,6 ft. At 45 lbs and 72 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sunsation 32 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Sunsation 288 XRT Open Bow Open Cockpit 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sunsation 32 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sunsation 32 XRT Mid-Cabin Open Bow 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 31,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sunsation 288 XRT Open Bow Open Cockpit 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.