The difference is really felt when you move off flat water onto the ocean. Forget that I am a big guy. But what I want is a boat with enough freeboard that you are not getting slapped by every other wave. A boat with enough power to drive through the afternoon chop that comes with the afternoon seabreeze. Enough bow to drive into the back of a wave and not worry about going end over end. A rear beam high enough so its not acting like a parking break. And there is a lot to be said for the wide beam, just ask the guys on the supercats.