Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Alumacraft 1542 2010 vs Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a flat Alumacraft 1542 2010 against a modified vee Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 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 — Alumacraft 1542 2010 at 15,0 ft versus Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 at 18,0 ft. At 21 lbs and 105 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 Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 tops out at 115 hp. Engine specs for the Alumacraft 1542 2010 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Alumacraft 1542 2010 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumacraft 1542 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeAlumacraft
MakeAlumacraft
Model1542
ModelMV 1860 AW Special
Model Year201
Model Year201
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam62 in. (1.58 m)
Beam86 in. (2.18 m)
Beam - Meters1.57
Beam - Meters2.18
Beam - Inches62
Beam - Inches86
Weight - Detail210 lbs. (95.25 kg)
Weight - Detail1,050 lbs. (476.3 kg)
Weight - kg95.25
Weight - kg476.27
Weight - lbs.21
Weight - lbs.105
Width [transom] - Detail42 in. (1.07 m)
Width [transom] - Detail60 in. (1.52 m)
Height - Detail20 in. (.51 m)
Height - Detail25 in. (.64 m)
Height - Meters0.51
Height - Meters0.64
Height - Inches2
Height - Inches25
Height [transom]15 in. (.38 m)
Height [transom]21 in. (.53 m)
Length - Meters4.58
Length - Meters5.5
Length - Feet15
Length - Feet18
Length overall - Detail15 ft. (4.58 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. (5.5 m)
Length overall - Meters4.57
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Inches18
Length overall - Inches216
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.063 in. (1.6 mm)
Hull thickness0.102 in. (2.6 mm)
Hull typeFlat
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard25 hp (19 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail16 gal. (60.57 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters60.57
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Engine maxnot available
Engine max115 hp (86 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity775 lbs. (352 kg)
Maximum capacity1,600 lbs. (725.7 kg)
Maximum people4
Maximum people6