When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the AB Inflatables 17 DLX 2013 and the AB Inflatables 19 VST 2011 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 17 DLX 2013 at 17,0 ft versus AB Inflatables 19 VST 2011 at 19,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the AB Inflatables 19 VST 2011 tips the scales at 1 252 lbs — 174 lbs less than the AB Inflatables 17 DLX 2013 at 1 078 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 — 115 hp for the AB Inflatables 17 DLX 2013 and 115 hp for the AB Inflatables 19 VST 2011. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the AB Inflatables 19 VST 2011 carries 45 gallons versus 33 gallons in the AB Inflatables 17 DLX 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The AB Inflatables 19 VST 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the AB Inflatables 17 DLX 2013 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 19 VST 2011 could be the deciding factor.