When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the WeldBilt 89 in. Beam 2011 and the WeldBilt 96 in. Beam 2010 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 89 in. Beam 2011 at 16,0 ft versus WeldBilt 96 in. Beam 2010 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the WeldBilt 89 in. Beam 2011 tips the scales at 514 lbs — 452 lbs more than the WeldBilt 96 in. Beam 2010 at 62 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.