When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Tidewater Boats 2200 Carolina Bay 2013 and the Tidewater Boats 228WA Excursion 2009 are modified 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 — Tidewater Boats 2200 Carolina Bay 2013 at 22,3 ft versus Tidewater Boats 228WA Excursion 2009 at 21,8 ft. At 22 lbs and 28 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 — 250 hp for the Tidewater Boats 2200 Carolina Bay 2013 and 250 hp for the Tidewater Boats 228WA Excursion 2009. 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 — 6 gal and 9 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
The Tidewater Boats 2200 Carolina Bay 2013 is rated for up to 9 people. Passenger data for the Tidewater Boats 228WA Excursion 2009 wasn't available.
Bottom line: The Tidewater Boats 2200 Carolina Bay 2013 and Tidewater Boats 228WA Excursion 2009 are closely matched on the specs that matter most. Test-ride both on the water you actually use, check current dealer pricing, and factor in long-term service access before you sign.