When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Boston Whaler 170 Montauk 2012 and the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 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 — Boston Whaler 170 Montauk 2012 at 17,0 ft versus Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 tips the scales at 115 lbs — 101 lbs less than the Boston Whaler 170 Montauk 2012 at 14 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 Boston Whaler 170 Montauk 2012 and 90 hp for the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011. 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 — 13 gal and 12 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 7 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Boston Whaler 170 Montauk 2012 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011. 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.