When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sunsation 288 XRT 2013 and the Sunsation 36 XRT 2012 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?

The Sunsation 36 XRT 2012 tops out at 430 hp. Engine specs for the Sunsation 288 XRT 2013 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sunsation 36 XRT 2012 carries 145 gallons versus 11 gallons in the Sunsation 288 XRT 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 Sunsation 36 XRT 2012 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sunsation 288 XRT 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 36 XRT 2012 could be the deciding factor.