Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2009 vs Alumacraft Pro 185 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2009 against a flat Alumacraft Pro 185 2013 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 MV 1860 AW Special 2009 at 18,0 ft versus Alumacraft Pro 185 2013 at 18,4 ft. At 105 lbs and 11 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2009 and 115 hp for the Alumacraft Pro 185 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2009 carries 16 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Alumacraft Pro 185 2013. 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 MV 1860 AW Special 2009 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Alumacraft Pro 185 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 MV 1860 AW Special 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft MV 1860 AW Special 2009 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 Pro 185 2013 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
ModelMV 1860 AW Special
ModelPro 185
Model Year2009
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam86 in
Beam86 / 60 in. (2.18 / 1.52 m)
Beam - Meters2.18
Beam - Meters1.52
Beam - Inches86
Beam - Inches6
Weight - Detail1,050 lbs
Weight - Detail1,100 lbs. (498 kg)
Weight - kg476.27
Weight - kg498.95
Weight - lbs.105
Weight - lbs.11
Width [transom] - Detail60 in
Width [transom] - Detail86 in. (2.18 m)
Height - Detail25 in
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters0.64
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches25
Height - Inchesnot available
Height [transom]21 in
Height [transom]21 in. (0.53 m)
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet18.42
Length overall - Detail18 ft
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in. (5.6 m)
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Meters5.61
Length overall - Inches216
Length overall - Inches221
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Detail24 in. (0.61 m) side height
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters60.96
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches24
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.102 in
Hull thickness0.102 in. (2.6 mm)
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeFlat
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail16 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (76 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters60.57
Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal2
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max115 hp
Engine max115 hp (86 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,600 lbs
Maximum capacity1,200 lbs. (544 kg)
Maximum people6
Maximum people4
Storagenot available
StorageBow & Aft Livewell: 20 gal. (76 l)