When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 and the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 20 ft. 2011 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Alumaweld Super Vee LT 20 ft. 2011 measures 20,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 at 17,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumaweld Free Drifter 17 2008 tips the scales at 935 lbs — 923 lbs more than the Alumaweld Super Vee LT 20 ft. 2011 at 12 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 20 ft. 2011 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 37 gal and 35 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumaweld Super Vee LT 20 ft. 2011 is rated for 6 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 20 ft. 2011 could be the deciding factor.