When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumaweld Intruder Outboard 18 2008 and the Alumaweld Intruder Sterndrive 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 Intruder Outboard 18 2008 at 18,0 ft versus Alumaweld Intruder Sterndrive 18 2008 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumaweld Intruder Sterndrive 18 2008 tips the scales at 1 955 lbs — 1 823 lbs less than the Alumaweld Intruder Outboard 18 2008 at 132 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 220 hp, the Alumaweld Intruder Sterndrive 18 2008 has a 105-hp advantage over the Alumaweld Intruder Outboard 18 2008's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 47 gal and 47 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumaweld Intruder Sterndrive 18 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumaweld Intruder Outboard 18 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 Intruder Sterndrive 18 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Alumaweld Intruder Outboard 18 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Alumaweld Intruder Sterndrive 18 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 Intruder Sterndrive 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 Intruder Outboard 18 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.