When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009 and the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 are deep vee designs with aluminum 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 — Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009 at 16,0 ft versus Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 at 17,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 tips the scales at 1 375 lbs — 570 lbs less than the Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009 at 805 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 150 hp, the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 carries 34 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009. 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 Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 16 lbs per hp for the Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.