When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the ALLcraft Marine 164 Sport Skiff 2011 and the ALLcraft Marine 17 Cayman 2012 are modified vee designs with composite 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 — ALLcraft Marine 164 Sport Skiff 2011 at 16,2 ft versus ALLcraft Marine 17 Cayman 2012 at 17,2 ft. At 45 lbs and 1 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 115 hp, the ALLcraft Marine 17 Cayman 2012 has a 111-hp advantage over the ALLcraft Marine 164 Sport Skiff 2011's 4-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The ALLcraft Marine 17 Cayman 2012 is rated for 5 passengers, while the ALLcraft Marine 164 Sport Skiff 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ALLcraft Marine 17 Cayman 2012 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The ALLcraft Marine 17 Cayman 2012 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 11 lbs per hp for the ALLcraft Marine 164 Sport Skiff 2011. 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.