When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Custom Weld 17 - 26 ft. Outboards 2012 and the Custom Weld 26 - 44 ft. Twin Series 2012 are deep vee designs with aluminum 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 660 hp, the Custom Weld 26 - 44 ft. Twin Series 2012 has a 641-hp advantage over the Custom Weld 17 - 26 ft. Outboards 2012's 19-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Custom Weld 26 - 44 ft. Twin Series 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Custom Weld 17 - 26 ft. Outboards 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Custom Weld 26 - 44 ft. Twin Series 2012 could be the deciding factor.