When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 and the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 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 — Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 tips the scales at 935 lbs — 837 lbs more than the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 at 98 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 115 hp, the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 has a 25-hp advantage over the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 carries 37 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008. 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 Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 10 lbs per hp for the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 18 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 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.