When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 and the Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 — Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 at 16,5 ft versus Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 at 18,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 tips the scales at 1 061 lbs — 917 lbs more than the Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 at 144 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 Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 tops out at 150 hp. Engine specs for the Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 carries 19 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010. 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 Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bay Series Bay Series 190 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bay Series Bay Series 170 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.