The Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 is a modified-V design and the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 is a deep-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 Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 measures 35,9 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 18,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 at 17,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 tips the scales at 14 200 lbs - 13 050 lbs less than the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 at 1 150 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 900 hp, the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 has a 810-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011's 90-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 carries 391 gallons versus 12 gallons in the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011. 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 Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest 2013 could be the deciding factor.