Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2008 vs Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2008 against a deep vee Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 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 Tex Special 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 at 18,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2008 tips the scales at 675 lbs — 497 lbs more than the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 at 178 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 Trophy 185 2011 has a 115-hp advantage over the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2008's 60-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 Trophy 185 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumacraft MV Tex Special 2008 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 Tex Special
ModelTrophy 185
Model Year2008
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam74 in. (1.88 m) Bottom: 50 in. (1.27 m)
Beam94 in. (2.4 m)
Beam - Meters1.88
Beam - Meters2.39
Beam - Inches74
Beam - Inches94
Depth - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Centimeters53.34
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Inches21
Depth - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail675 lbs. (307 kg)
Weight - Detail1,780 lbs. (807 kg)
Weight - kg306.17
Weight - kg807.39
Weight - lbs.675
Weight - lbs.178
Width [transom] - Detail69 in. (1.75 m)
Width [transom] - Detail96 in. (2.45 m)
Height [transom]20 in. (0.50 m)
Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)
Length - Meters4.88
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet16
Length - Feet18.67
Length overall - Detail16 ft. (4.88 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 8 in. (5.6 m)
Length overall - Meters4.88
Length overall - Meters5.69
Length overall - Inches192
Length overall - Inches224
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Detail47 in. (1.2 m) To Floor: 27 in. (0.69 m)
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Meters1.19
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Inches47
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.102 in. (2.5 mm)
Hull thicknessBottom: 0.100 in. (2.5 mm) Sides: 0.080 in. (2 mm)
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max60 hp (45 kW)
Engine max175 hp (130 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal38
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,010 lbs. (458 kg)
Maximum capacity1,760 lbs. (798 kg)
Maximum people4
Maximum people8
Storagenot available
StorageBow Livewell: 22 gal. (83.3 l) Aft Livewell: 21 gal. (71 l)