When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Tahoe Pontoons 27 ft. Sierra Elite 2013 and the Tahoe Pontoons Sierra Funship 2012 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Tahoe Pontoons 27 ft. Sierra Elite 2013 at 27,0 ft versus Tahoe Pontoons Sierra Funship 2012 at 26,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Tahoe Pontoons Sierra Funship 2012 tips the scales at 385 lbs — 120 lbs less than the Tahoe Pontoons 27 ft. Sierra Elite 2013 at 265 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 250 hp, the Tahoe Pontoons Sierra Funship 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Tahoe Pontoons 27 ft. Sierra Elite 2013's 175-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Tahoe Pontoons Sierra Funship 2012 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Tahoe Pontoons 27 ft. Sierra Elite 2013 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Tahoe Pontoons Sierra Funship 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Both are 2-tube and 3-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.