When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumacraft Dominator 165 CS 2006 and the Alumacraft VB 1756 AW Tunnel 2013 are modified 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 Dominator 165 CS 2006 at 16,0 ft versus Alumacraft VB 1756 AW Tunnel 2013 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft Dominator 165 CS 2006 tips the scales at 1 175 lbs — 590 lbs more than the Alumacraft VB 1756 AW Tunnel 2013 at 585 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 90 hp, the Alumacraft Dominator 165 CS 2006 has a 40-hp advantage over the Alumacraft VB 1756 AW Tunnel 2013's 50-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 Dominator 165 CS 2006 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft VB 1756 AW Tunnel 2013 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft Dominator 165 CS 2006 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Alumacraft VB 1756 AW Tunnel 2013 comes in at 12 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Alumacraft Dominator 165 CS 2006. 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.