When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2012 and the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2013 are pontoon designs with aluminum 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2013 measures 20,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 18,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2012 at 2,0 feet (2012). At 2 318 lbs and 2 299 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 90 hp for the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2012 and 90 hp for the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 21 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2012 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sweetwater SW 2086 BF 2013 could be the deciding factor.