The Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 vs Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 at 18,0 ft versus Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 2007 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 2007 tips the scales at 1 491 lbs — 1 326 lbs less than the Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 at 165 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 90 hp for the Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 and 75 hp for the Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 2007. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 2007 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 20 lbs per hp for the Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 2007. 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 Avalon 18 ft. CT - Fish N Fun 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Avalon Windjammer - 18 Foot 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.