When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 and the Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 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 Competitor 175 Sport 2013 at 17,7 ft versus Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 tips the scales at 1 375 lbs — 1 207 lbs more than the Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 at 168 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 175 hp, the Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 has a 25-hp advantage over the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013'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 Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 carries 38 gallons versus 34 gallons in the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
Both boats are rated for 6 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013. 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: Performance buyers should lean toward the Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185 CS 2009 and its 175-hp ceiling. If fuel economy and quieter running matter more than top-end speed, the Alumacraft Competitor 175 Sport 2013 with its 150-hp rating is the more economical daily driver.