When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010 and the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 are modified vee 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 — Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010 at 17,8 ft versus Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 at 17,2 ft. At 65 lbs and 91 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 135 hp, the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 has a 45-hp advantage over the Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010 carries 23 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 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 Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Action Craft 1710 HB FlyFisher 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.