Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 or the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011?

For trailering, the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 has the edge at 88 lbs dry weight versus 178 lbs for the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011. 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 Trophy 185 2011 is rated to a maximum of 175 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 tops out at 75 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 Navigator 165 CS 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 is certified for 8. 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 Trophy 185 2011 measures 94" wide, compared to 82" for the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003. 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 or the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011?

The Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 has the bigger tank at 38 gallons, versus 22 gallons on the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 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 Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011

Alumacraft

Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003

2003

View full specs →

Alumacraft

Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 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 175 hp, the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 has a 100-hp advantage over the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003's 75-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 Trophy 185 2011 carries 38 gallons versus 22 gallons in the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003. 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 Trophy 185 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 caps at 5. 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 Navigator 165 CS 2003 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeAlumacraft

ModelNavigator 165 CS

ModelTrophy 185

Model Year2003

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam82 in

Beam94 in. (2.4 m)

Beam - Meters2.08

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Inches82

Beam - Inches94

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail880 lbs

Weight - Detail1,780 lbs. (807 kg)

Weight - kg399.16

Weight - kg807.39

Weight - lbs.88

Weight - lbs.178

Height - Detail36 in

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters0.91

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches36

Height - Inchesnot available

Height [transom]82 in. 20 in

Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 8 in. (5.6 m)

Length overall - Meters5

Length overall - Meters5.69

Length overall - Inches197

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail96 in. (2.45 m)

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet18.67

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thicknessBottom: 0.100 in. (2.5 mm) Sides: 0.080 in. (2 mm)

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail22 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters83.28

Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Fuel tank capacity - Gal38

Engine max75 hp

Engine max175 hp (130 kW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum people5 persons

Maximum people8

Storagenot available

StorageBow Livewell: 22 gal. (83.3 l) Aft Livewell: 21 gal. (71 l)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,760 lbs. (798 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailn/a

Trailer - Detailnot available

Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 or the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011?

For trailering, the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 has the edge at 88 lbs dry weight versus 178 lbs for the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011. 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 Trophy 185 2011 is rated to a maximum of 175 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 tops out at 75 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 Navigator 165 CS 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 is certified for 8. 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 Trophy 185 2011 measures 94" wide, compared to 82" for the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 or the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011?

The Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 has the bigger tank at 38 gallons, versus 22 gallons on the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and the Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 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 Navigator 165 CS 2003 full specs ← Alumacraft Trophy 185 2011 full specs