The Blue Wave 170 Super Tunnel 2008 is a tunnel hull design and the Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 is a modified-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 measures 19,7 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Blue Wave 170 Super Tunnel 2008 at 16,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 tips the scales at 1 700 lbs - 850 lbs less than the Blue Wave 170 Super Tunnel 2008 at 850 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 225 hp, the Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 has a 145-hp advantage over the Blue Wave 170 Super Tunnel 2008's 80-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 carries 40 gallons versus 18 gallons in the Blue Wave 170 Super Tunnel 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 Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Blue Wave 170 Super Tunnel 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Blue Wave 190 Classic 2011 could be the deciding factor.