Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 or the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007?

For trailering, the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 has the edge at 88 lbs dry weight versus 105 lbs for the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007. 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 Special Tunnel 2007 is rated to a maximum of 115 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 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 Special Tunnel 2007 measures 86" 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007?

The Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 has the bigger tank at 22 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007. That 6-gallon difference translates to roughly 18–30 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007

Alumacraft

Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003

2003

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Alumacraft

Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007

2007

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 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 Special Tunnel 2007 has a 40-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 Navigator 165 CS 2003 carries 22 gallons versus 16 gallons in the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007. 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 is rated for 6 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 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 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

ModelV-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel

Model Year2003

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam82 in

Beam86 in

Beam - Meters2.08

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Inches82

Beam - Inches86

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail880 lbs

Weight - Detail1,050 lbs

Weight - kg399.16

Weight - kg476.27

Weight - lbs.88

Weight - lbs.105

Height - Detail36 in

Height - Detail25 in

Height - Meters0.91

Height - Meters0.64

Height - Inches36

Height - Inches25

Height [transom]82 in. 20 in

Height [transom]21 in

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters5

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches197

Length overall - Inches216

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail60 in

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet18

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.102 in

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail22 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail16 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters83.28

Fuel tank capacity - Liters60.57

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Fuel tank capacity - Gal16

Engine max75 hp

Engine max115 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum people5 persons

Maximum people6

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,200 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailn/a

Trailer - Detailnot available

Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 or the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007?

For trailering, the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 has the edge at 88 lbs dry weight versus 105 lbs for the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007. 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 Special Tunnel 2007 is rated to a maximum of 115 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 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 Special Tunnel 2007 measures 86" 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007?

The Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 has the bigger tank at 22 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007. That 6-gallon difference translates to roughly 18–30 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS 2003 and the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 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 V-Bow 1860 AW Special Tunnel 2007 full specs