When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the WeldBilt 77 in. Beam 2011 and the WeldBilt 96 in. Beam 2012 are flat 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 — WeldBilt 77 in. Beam 2011 at 16,0 ft versus WeldBilt 96 in. Beam 2012 at 17,0 ft. At 41 lbs and 62 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.