The Action Craft 1820 2005 vs Action Craft 1890 FlatsMaster 2013 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Action Craft 1820 2005 at 18,0 ft versus Action Craft 1890 FlatsMaster 2013 at 18,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Action Craft 1820 2005 tips the scales at 725 lbs — 610 lbs more than the Action Craft 1890 FlatsMaster 2013 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 FlatsMaster 2013 has a 65-hp advantage over the Action Craft 1820 2005's 135-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 FlatsMaster 2013 carries 45 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Action Craft 1820 2005. 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 1890 FlatsMaster 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Action Craft 1820 2005 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 1890 FlatsMaster 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Action Craft 1890 FlatsMaster 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Action Craft 1820 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.