Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 or the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005?

For trailering, the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 has the edge at 8 lbs dry weight versus 105 lbs for the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 tops out at 40 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 measures 86" wide, compared to 74" for the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 and Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 and the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005

Alumacraft

Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004

2004

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Alumacraft

Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 has a 75-hp advantage over the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004's 40-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 Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 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 Crappie Special 2004 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

ModelCrappie Special

ModelV-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL

Model Year2004

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam74 in. Bottom: 52 in

Beam86 in

Beam - Meters1.88

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Inches74

Beam - Inches86

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail800 lbs

Weight - Detail1,050 lbs

Weight - kg362.87

Weight - kg476.27

Weight - lbs.8

Weight - lbs.105

Height - Detail21 in

Height - Detail25 in

Height - Meters0.53

Height - Meters0.64

Height - Inches21

Height - Inches25

Height [transom]22 in. Width: 74 in

Height [transom]21 in

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters5.08

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches2

Length overall - Inches216

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail60 in

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet18

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thicknessBottom/sides: 0.102 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detailn/a

Fuel tank capacity - DetailTwo 7.5 gal

Engine max40 hp

Engine max115 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters30.28

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal7.5

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum people4 persons

Maximum people6

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailn/a

Trailer - Detailnot available

Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 or the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005?

For trailering, the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 has the edge at 8 lbs dry weight versus 105 lbs for the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 tops out at 40 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 measures 86" wide, compared to 74" for the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 and Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 and the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Alumacraft Crappie Special 2004 full specs ← Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel SPL 2005 full specs