When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher Flats 2008 and the Action Craft 1820 Flats Master 2009 are other 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 1720 FlyFisher Flats 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Action Craft 1820 Flats Master 2009 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Action Craft 1820 Flats Master 2009 tips the scales at 975 lbs — 884 lbs less than the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher Flats 2008 at 91 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 — 135 hp for the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher Flats 2008 and 150 hp for the Action Craft 1820 Flats Master 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Action Craft 1820 Flats Master 2009 carries 45 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher Flats 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 5 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Action Craft 1720 FlyFisher Flats 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 7 lbs per hp for the Action Craft 1820 Flats Master 2009. 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.