When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012 and the AB Inflatables A 16 2009 are inflatable rigid designs with fiberglass 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 — AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012 at 13,0 ft versus AB Inflatables A 16 2009 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012 tips the scales at 477 lbs — 136 lbs more than the AB Inflatables A 16 2009 at 341 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 40 hp for the AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012 and 30 hp for the AB Inflatables A 16 2009. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 14 gal and 15 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the AB Inflatables A 16 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The AB Inflatables A 16 2009 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the AB Inflatables 13 VST 2012. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.