When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Tidewater Boats 1996 2013 and the Tidewater Boats 2196 2013 are tri-hull designs with composite 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Tidewater Boats 2196 2013 has a 35-hp advantage over the Tidewater Boats 1996 2013's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Tidewater Boats 2196 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Tidewater Boats 1996 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Tidewater Boats 2196 2013 could be the deciding factor.