The Tournament 205 (top) with a single 225-hp Yamaha four-stroke is plenty peppy and proudly charges through a head sea. The Seaswirl (bottom) with a 200-hp Yamaha is no slug, either, and it gets better fuel mileage and range than the Grady.

This head-to-head boat review tests our own buying beliefs. When faced with choosing between the lower-end but larger boat, or the smaller but higher-quality boat, Powerboat Reports has typically leaned toward the latter. We’ve recommended that you spend the extra money to get the better construction, fit and finish, performance, and re-sale value of the expensive boat.

But then along came the four-stroke outboard, muddying the waters. A nice new four-stroke, with its quiet, fuel-efficient operation, makes even the cheapest-looking price-boat more attractive. And if a reputable builder who uses decent materials and methods builds that price boat, and if that boat gets better gas mileage than its competitor, then…