When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Century Boats 1701 Inshore 2013 and the Century Boats 2901 Center Console 2013 are deep 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Century Boats 2901 Center Console 2013 measures 29,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 12,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Century Boats 1701 Inshore 2013 at 17,2 feet (2013). At 11 lbs and 7 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Century Boats 2901 Center Console 2013 has a 485-hp advantage over the Century Boats 1701 Inshore 2013's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Century Boats 1701 Inshore 2013 carries 24 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Century Boats 2901 Center Console 2013. 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 Century Boats 2901 Center Console 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Century Boats 1701 Inshore 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Century Boats 2901 Center Console 2013 could be the deciding factor.