When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Veranda Marine V165 2013 and the Veranda Marine VRL V20 2008 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?

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 70 hp for the Veranda Marine V165 2013 and 90 hp for the Veranda Marine VRL V20 2008. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Veranda Marine VRL V20 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Veranda Marine V165 2013 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Veranda Marine VRL V20 2008 could be the deciding factor.