Matching a modified vee Action Craft 1820 FlatsMaster 2011 against a other Action Craft 1890 Flats Master 2009 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Action Craft 1820 FlatsMaster 2011 at 18,2 ft versus Action Craft 1890 Flats Master 2009 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Action Craft 1820 FlatsMaster 2011 tips the scales at 975 lbs — 860 lbs more than the Action Craft 1890 Flats Master 2009 at 115 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Action Craft 1890 Flats Master 2009 has a 50-hp advantage over the Action Craft 1820 FlatsMaster 2011's 150-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 1890 Flats Master 2009 carries 45 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Action Craft 1820 FlatsMaster 2011. 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 1820 FlatsMaster 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Action Craft 1890 Flats Master 2009 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 1820 FlatsMaster 2011 could be the deciding factor.